A statue of a Confederate general, torn down and set ablaze amid the social justice protests of 2020, has been reinstalled in Washington, D.C., at the behest of President Donald Trump. General Albert Pike's statue, originally erected in 1901, has long been a focal point of controversy regarding Confederate monuments. The National Park Service disclosed its plan to reinstall the refurbished statue after the signing of an executive order titled 'Restoring Truth and Sanity to American History.' Critics, including Democratic Delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton, have condemned the restoration, arguing it is offensive to military members and reflects a troubling alignment with historical revisionism.
On Monday, videos captured the area around Pike's statue, marked by a sign indicating the space was closed for 'historic preservation work.' The National Park Service affirmed that the restoration complies with federal historic preservation responsibilities. Yet, this move follows years of calls for Pike’s statue to be permanently removed, with Norton emphasizing Pike's controversial past, including allegations of dishonorable service in the Civil War and connections to the Ku Klux Klan.
The plaque that previously accompanied the statue described Pike in glowing terms, referring to him as an 'author, poet, scholar, soldier, jurist, orator, philanthropist, and philosopher.' The statue was pulled down by anti-racism protesters following George Floyd’s murder, with Trump decrying the act on social media as a disgrace. Since his return to the White House, Trump has ordered a reinstatement of Confederate symbols, stirring ongoing debate over the implications of such actions in contemporary society.
On Monday, videos captured the area around Pike's statue, marked by a sign indicating the space was closed for 'historic preservation work.' The National Park Service affirmed that the restoration complies with federal historic preservation responsibilities. Yet, this move follows years of calls for Pike’s statue to be permanently removed, with Norton emphasizing Pike's controversial past, including allegations of dishonorable service in the Civil War and connections to the Ku Klux Klan.
The plaque that previously accompanied the statue described Pike in glowing terms, referring to him as an 'author, poet, scholar, soldier, jurist, orator, philanthropist, and philosopher.' The statue was pulled down by anti-racism protesters following George Floyd’s murder, with Trump decrying the act on social media as a disgrace. Since his return to the White House, Trump has ordered a reinstatement of Confederate symbols, stirring ongoing debate over the implications of such actions in contemporary society.
