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A blank canvas, and an opportunity for reinvention: What should the new Monument Avenue (Richmond, VA) look like?
Richmond Times-Dispatch ^ | July 6, 2020 | Zach Joachim

Posted on 07/07/2020 1:41:50 PM PDT by Perseverando

For a century, Monument Avenue has showcased some of the Confederacy’s most revered figures.

Soon, there will be a blank canvas.

Over the past week, the Richmond Times-Dispatch asked demonstrators, residents, artists and community leaders what they'd like to see on the new Monument Avenue.

There were suggestions of new statues, honoring a more inclusive set of heroes. Others wanted a space for performance or reflection, while some felt the empty pedestals should stay as a historical testimony of their own.

One point of agreement was that it must be a communitywide conversation.

Through restrictive covenants, real estate companies long advertised property there based on the premise that “no lots can ever be sold or rented in Monument Avenue Park to any person of African descent.”

Now, presented with a fresh opportunity to imagine one of the city's most prominent promenades, Richmond has the rare opportunity to redefine itself to the world.

Replacement statues Most nights, the Robert E. Lee monument is adorned with projections by Richmond-based artists Alex Criqui and Dustin Klein. On a recent night, they used images of Black Union soldiers.

The idea of replacing Stonewall Jackson, Jefferson Davis and others with famous Black Americans would reframe the message communicated by the street.

Suggestions for replacement statues collected for this story ranged from leaders of the civil rights movement — Rosa Parks, Martin Luther King Jr. and W.E.B. Du Bois — to locals such as civil rights attorney Oliver Hill and Richmond Planet editor John Mitchell Jr.

Richmond’s Paul DiPasquale, the sculptor of Monument Avenue’s Arthur Ashe statue, has helped the city take down Ashe’s Confederate counterparts. He said the intention is to eventually remove the bases upon which previous statues stood.

(Excerpt) Read more at richmond.com ...


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Culture/Society; Politics/Elections; US: Virginia
KEYWORDS: americanhistory; confederacy; confederate; monuments; richmond; richmondva; statues; ushistory; vahistory
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To: Perseverando
There were suggestions of new statues, honoring a more inclusive set of heroes....Rosa Parks, Martin Luther King Jr. ...W.E.B. Du Bois...Oliver Hill...John Mitchell Jr.

I guess inclusiveness applies only to blacks. Whites, Asians, Latinos, etc. need not apply.

21 posted on 07/07/2020 2:01:40 PM PDT by HarleyD
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To: Perseverando

Richmond’s Monument Avenue should look like the old version—honoring the Confederate States of America and her heroes!!!!

PHOOEY to cancel culture!!!!


22 posted on 07/07/2020 2:01:42 PM PDT by Honorary Serb (Kosovo is Serbia! Free Srpska! Abolish ICTY!)
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To: Perseverando

23 posted on 07/07/2020 2:03:03 PM PDT by Ouchthatonehurt
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To: Perseverando

Newton falls Ohio has offered to take all offensive statues and display them.


24 posted on 07/07/2020 2:04:12 PM PDT by mylife (The Roar Of The Masses Could Be Farts)
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To: Perseverando

25 posted on 07/07/2020 2:04:14 PM PDT by piroque ("When the SHTF I'm gonna hunker down until all those idiots kill each other. ")
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To: Perseverando

Put up twice as many statues of confederates and a central bronze hand statue titled: America Flipping Off Political Correctness.


26 posted on 07/07/2020 2:04:24 PM PDT by Rurudyne (Standup Philosopher)
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To: Perseverando

How about an inverse Mount Rushmore. Instead of heads of
Ralph Northam, Terry McAuliffe, Bob McDonnell, Tim Kaine,
Mark Warner, and others back to Patrick Henry. Instead of standing, each would be facing outward from the walkway grasping his ankles. Each plaque would have the name of the governor with his dates of service and the note “This is how this governor viewed the taxpayers.”


27 posted on 07/07/2020 2:04:40 PM PDT by MIchaelTArchangel (I miss Don Imus!)
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To: Travis McGee
Their devoted cult followers care. And you won't like what follows.

Ah yes, the heroes, aka Comrades, of the demoKKKrat party.

28 posted on 07/07/2020 2:04:45 PM PDT by Perseverando (Liberals, Progressives, Islamonazis, Statists, Commies, DemoKKKrats: It's a Godlessness disorder.)
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To: Perseverando

It will now stand as a shameful act upon the city.


29 posted on 07/07/2020 2:06:23 PM PDT by stockpirate (Anyone who believes Epstein killed himself is a fool, and the DNC wacked Seth Rich)
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To: Perseverando

Well, I’m that didn’t take long. Submit a FOIA request for city council meeting minutes, this has been planned and discussed.


30 posted on 07/07/2020 2:06:36 PM PDT by RegulatorCountry
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To: Perseverando

I would fight any effort to put any statue up whatsoever.


31 posted on 07/07/2020 2:10:43 PM PDT by Jonty30 (What Islam and secularism have in common is that they are both death cults.)
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To: Honorary Serb

“honoring the Confederate States of America and her heroes”

Bunch of losers.


32 posted on 07/07/2020 2:11:36 PM PDT by FewsOrange
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To: Perseverando

33 posted on 07/07/2020 2:12:15 PM PDT by BenLurkin (The above is not a statement of fact. It is either opinion or satire. Or both.)
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To: Perseverando

Gov Northam on his knees fellating Obama.


34 posted on 07/07/2020 2:12:22 PM PDT by Seruzawa (TANSTAAFL!)
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https://www.wkbn.com/news/local-news/city-manager-proclaims-newton-falls-sanctuary-city-for-rejected-statues-of-historic-us-figures/


35 posted on 07/07/2020 2:13:17 PM PDT by mylife (The Roar Of The Masses Could Be Farts)
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To: Perseverando
The idea of replacing Stonewall Jackson, Jefferson Davis and others with famous Black Americans would reframe the message communicated by the street.

So changing it from all white guys to all black guys is "a more inclusive set of heroes"?

36 posted on 07/07/2020 2:14:08 PM PDT by DoodleDawg
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To: Perseverando

The could probably get a genuine Russian Joseph Stalin for cheap....


37 posted on 07/07/2020 2:15:05 PM PDT by GenXteacher (You have chosen dishonor to avoid war; you shall have war also. Wall)
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To: Perseverando

Robert Byrd, in full Grand Exalted Waffle garb. 100 feet tall.


38 posted on 07/07/2020 2:15:37 PM PDT by LouieFisk
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To: Perseverando

Al Sharpton in a mink coat riding a horse. A horse riding Don Lemon from behind.


39 posted on 07/07/2020 2:16:55 PM PDT by chuckee
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To: LouieFisk
"Robert Byrd, in full Grand Exalted Waffle garb. 100 feet tall."

Good one. I think they should put up monuments to the 98% of white folks who DID NOT OWN SLAVES BEFORE THE CIVIL WAR ANYWAY.

40 posted on 07/07/2020 2:18:19 PM PDT by Tell It Right (1st Thessalonians 5:21 -- Put everything to the test, hold fast to that which is true.)
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