Once upon a time, in Richmond, Virginia, there stood a statue of Robert E. Lee on Monument Avenue for 133 years.
However, in the wake of the summer of 2020 protests and growing social awareness, the State Supreme Court approved the removal of the statue. Governor Ralph Northam issued a statement on the removal saying, “It is time to display history as history, and use public memorials to honor the full and inclusive truth of who we are today and in the future.”
The statue was taken down on September 8, 2021, and sent to storage.
In December 2021, the transfer of the Lee statue and other monuments to the Black History Museum and Cultural Center of Virginia was announced and given unanimous approval by the Richmond City Council the next month.
The vacant pedestal was dismantled in February 2022, leaving the once-iconic traffic circle a bare patch of grass. There is a plan to replace the area with a garden but a timetable hasn’t been set.
Images provided by Das Frank
In an alternative universe, Oderus Urungus, our scum dog overlord had a statue on Monument Avenue.
Created by Richmond born artist Das Frank, he had this to say, “Hail the mighty Oderus Urungus! This poster has been making the rounds on the internet again and I’m super stoked that people still dig it! Originally created when they were tearing down the Robert E. Lee Monument in my hometown of Richmond, Va, this poster was my humble submission to state assembly as a replacement… I have yet to hear back from them. I think still have a few in my flat file, check my site. ODERUS LIVES!”
Follow Das Frank @das.frank.inc
Buy prints at dasfrank.com
