Senator proposes removing Confederate monuments from Virginia’s Capitol Square

RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) -- Three Confederate monuments may soon disappear from Virginia’s State Capitol.

That’s because Sen. Adam Ebbin (D-Alexandria) is sponsoring a bill to remove three statutes -- one of Confederate General Stonewall Jackson, one of Gov. William “Extra Billy” Smith, a former Confederate general and another of Confederate Dr. Hunter Holmes McGuire -- from Capitol Square. 

“They say when you go camping, you should leave a campsite better than when you got there, and I’ve been here 22 years, and I’d like to leave Capitol Square better than when I got here by removing those memorials,” Ebbin, who’s retiring during this year’s General Assembly Session, told 8News. 

Ebbin said it’s embarrassing to have constituents walk by statues honoring those associated with the Confederacy.

“We gotta think about who we venerate. The Civil War is over; it’s been over for a long time. I think we can acknowledge it,” Ebbin said. 

However, Republicans like Senate Minority Leader Ryan McDougle (R-Hanover) said Ebbin’s bill is an example of Democrats prioritizing measures that won’t actually help everyday Virginians. 

“The questions y’all are asking about are bills that Democrats are putting in that are not focused on Virginians, saving them money," McDougle told 8News. "It’s not focused on their affordability. It’s everything but that."

Ebbin said the cost of removing the three statues is around $150,000. His bill still needs to clear the Senate Finance and Appropriations Committee before it can be heard by the full Senate.