Removal of Confederate Statues... US Version of Historical Controversy Amid 'Floyd Protests'

▲Equestrian statue of General Robert E. Lee located in Richmond, Virginia, considered a symbol of white supremacy. [Image source=AP Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kwon Jae-hee] The "Floyd protests" sparked by the death of Black man George Floyd due to the brutal actions of a white police officer are reigniting the issue of historical reckoning in the United States. The protests have amplified calls to address the persistent racial problems that have long plagued American society.

A prime example is the removal of the Richmond equestrian statue. On the 4th (local time), Ralph Northam, Governor of Virginia, announced plans to remove the statue of General Robert E. Lee located in Richmond, the state capital. General Lee led the Confederacy, which supported slavery during the Civil War, and has been regarded as a symbol of white supremacy. For this reason, during the Floyd protests that have lasted over a week, the statue has been a major target for graffiti and vandalism.

There has been a fierce debate over whether to remove or preserve General Lee’s equestrian statue. On one side, there are arguments that the statue symbolizes the defense of Black slavery and represents an inappropriate reverence for Southern history. On the other, opponents claim that removing the statue would be erasing a part of history.

The removal of General Lee’s statue has been a continuous source of controversy in the context of racial issues in American society. During the Charlottesville protests in 2017, Mike Signer, the mayor of Charlottesville, Virginia, attempted to remove the statue, but the effort was halted due to lawsuits filed by opposing groups.

The Charlottesville protests occurred in August 2017 in Charlottesville, Virginia, when a participant in a white supremacist rally drove a car into a crowd of counter-protesters, killing one person and injuring 36 others.

The year 2017, when the Charlottesville protests took place, was early in Donald Trump’s presidency. Despite the violent incident, President Trump did not clearly hold white supremacists accountable and instead took an ambiguous stance, which led to significant backlash.

Against this backdrop, there are opinions that the unresolved racial issues related to historical reckoning could backfire on President Trump. He has sparked controversy with inappropriate remarks about Floyd while boasting about his economic achievements, and has drawn criticism for escalating division by invoking "law and order" to justify military deployment.

Within Trump’s re-election campaign, concerns have emerged that the Black vote could work against him in the November election.

U.S. CNN also criticized, saying, "President Trump is undermining the Floyd protests for his political gain," and accused him of "exploiting the 'massacre' for political advantage."