Byrd statue has been removed from Virginia's Capital Square

[underpants]

Byrd was the leader of the all powerful “Byrd machine” that ran the Commonwealth for decades. To his grave he was an unapologetic racist who was one of the primary sources behind “Massive Resistance” to stop school integration after Brown v. Board.
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RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) — The Department of General Services removed the statue of former Virginia governor Harry F. Byrd from Capitol Square this morning.

Byrd has been widely criticized for his role as the architect of Massive Resistance to public school integration. Many lawmakers felt this legacy shouldn’t be celebrated on the Capitol grounds.

A bill to get rid of the statue won bipartisan support last session in the general assembly, though nearly 40 republicans voted against it.

Link to tweet

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https://www.wric.com/news/local-news/richmond/bystanders-asked-to-avoid-capitol-square-as-byrd-statue-comes-down-tomorrow/

[mahatmakanejeeves]

1. How we got here:

Update: We're removing it today.
How we got here:

R: Dems want to tear down Confederate statues? I'll show them! How about a statue of a Democrat: Harry Byrd!
Ds: Cool. We'll co-patron it.
R: Umm... I withdraw my bill.
Del.
@jonesjay
: Fine. Dibs.
*passes House 63-34*
Ds: Hooray!

Link to tweet

[underpants]

2. That's awesome.