Duke Removes Robert E. Lee Statue

DURHAM, NC — Duke University removed a statue of Confederate General Robert E. Lee from the entrance of Duke Chapel early Saturday morning, the university said.

The removal comes as many cities and institutions are taking steps to take down statues that pay tribute to the Confederacy in the wake of the violence in Charlottesville. The statue of Lee at Duke had been vandalized earlier this week.

In an email to the Duke community, Duke President Vincent E. Price said he authorized the removal after hearing from and consulting with a number of students, faculty, staff, and alumni. Price said the removal presents an opportunity for the Duke community to learn and heal. The statue will be preserved "so that students can study Duke’s complex past and take part in a more inclusive future."

A statue of Lee was the focal point of the weekend's violence in Charlottesville. On Friday, Charlottesville Mayor Mike Signer called for the removal of Confederate statues from downtown Charlottesville. He had previously voted against the removal of the Lee statue in Charlottesville.

Statues have started to come down across the country. In Baltimore, the statues were removed in the dead of night. And in Durham, protesters took it upon themselves to remove the statue of a Confederate soldier.

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