ROCKY MOUNT, N.C. — The North Carolina city of Rocky Mount has approved the removal of a Confederate statue that has stood for more than a century.
The Rocky Mount City Council approved the removal Monday night. The vote follows several days of protests in North Carolina and across the country against racism and police brutality.
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The demonstrations were sparked by the death of George Floyd, a black man who died in police custody in Minneapolis.
Since Floyd’s death, Virginia’s governor has ordered the removal of Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee from the city of Richmond. The city’s mayor has also announced plans to remove other Confederate monuments.
Mayor Pro Tem Andre Knight released the following statement Monday evening:
“The vote to remove the confederate monument demonstrates the council’s focus on unifying the community and its commitment to ensure everyone feels welcomed to Rocky Mount, and residence proud to call Rocky Mount home. This is indeed a historic moment--103 years that this monument has cast shadow of fear and intimidation over Rocky Mount, one that will never be forgotten--a healing for the community, putting us on the right path as we move the city forward.”
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