Statue Of Confederate President Jefferson Davis Removed In New Orleans

NEW ORLEANS, LA — A statue of Confederate President Jefferson Davis was taken down in New Orleans, as protesters on both sides of removing Confederate monuments in the city took to the streets, according to NBC news.

Early Thursday, protesters carrying Confederate flags rang out with calls of "President Davis" and confronted demonstrators shouting "take 'em down." The city is planning to remove more Confederate statues.

Both sides in the argument began to gather late Wednesday and police separated the two sides with fences as tensions rose. The city planned to keep the actual time of the statue removal quiet because contractors involved were threatened, but it was leaked by a local principal, who sent out a warning to parents, according to CNN.

New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu tweeted removing the statue was a defining moment. "This historic moment is an opportunity to join together as one city and redefine our future," he said. "This morning we continue our march to reconciliation by removing the Jefferson Davis Confederate statue from its pedestal of reverence."

Photo by Gerald Herbert/Associated Press

This is a developing story, check back for updates.