Why were statues of Robert E. Lee removed from public places in many cities?

Statues of Robert E. Lee were removed from public places in many cities because, during the 21st century, he became an increasingly controversial figure due to his role as a Confederate general and slaveholder.1

Critics argue that these monuments are racist, offensive, and were originally erected to honor and enforce white supremacist views, serving to perpetuate a system of inequality. Many view these statues as symbols that pay homage to hate rather than heritage, arguing that public monuments should embody democratic ideals rather than honor those who advocated for slavery and systemic racism.2

The movement to remove these statues gained significant momentum following several high-profile events, including the 2015 Charleston church shooting, the 2017 "Unite the Right" rally in Charlottesville, and the 2020 protests following the death of George Floyd. While some proponents of keeping the statues argue that their removal amounts to censorship or the "whitewashing" of history, others maintain that removing them is a necessary step toward addressing the harmful legacy of the Confederacy and the Lost Cause tradition.3412