Charlottesville, VA.

       Why and how did this all start? This rallying, fighting, and death has happened over the removal of a statue? The statue of Robert E. Lee is a direct insult to Black Americans and minorities in America. Robert E. Lee was a general in the confederate forces and of course a slave owner. Lee was very mean and cruel with his slaves and encouraged his overseers to severely beat slaves that attempted to escape from his plantation, according to past documentation. He was a great white man for white confederates, but for African Americans, Minority Americans and some White Americans he is a repulsive individual. The statue should be removed from the park immediately and in fact, should have never been created. His name was removed from a high school in Houston with a large Latino population, and renamed as Margaret Long Wisdom High School. A Gen. Robert E. Lee statue was removed from the Lee Circle in New Orleans under a 2015 City Council vote. The park where the statue is stationed in Charlottesville, Va., has been renamed to Emancipation Park. The Charlottesville statue removal has been met with a counter suit and white racist protesters, that want to stop the removal of the statue.
 
       The Robert E. Lee statue in Charlottesville, Va., went up in 1924. A year later, the U.S. Congress voted to use federal funds to restore the Lee mansion in the Arlington National Cemetery. This statue has been in its place for 93 years and now it is the center of all media and American conversations. People have died and been injured in the overall protest of the potential statue removal. The white racists decided to protest and file a lawsuit to stop the statue removal. White racists decided to rally to yell and scream but why were there counterdemonstrators? People must understand that fighting fire with fire isn’t always the answer. Let them protest and look like fucking idiots, that’s how their protest should have been handled. If no one records it or calls the media, then there is nothing to be talked about regarding their rally. It’s upsetting to even know that they can protest, but let’s get the verdict of the lawsuit before we fight back. Now people have died and been injured and there is possibility that the statue can remain in its current location.
 
       Racism is alive and was alive before Trumps inauguration. It was alive before the black lives matter movement began and will be around while human beings exist. I want us to pick our battles wisely and fight when it’s time to fight. Three people have died due to this dumb protest about a damn statue. I know the pain runs deeper than the statue and that’s understood. There are bigger issues going on today and they start in our own communities. Let’s start fighting the gang violence and senseless murders in our communities first. I can bet my life that there have been more minorities hurting one another than white hate crimes against minorities. Let’s fix ourselves before we battle another race. This does not mean don’t fight against racism but at least put up the same fight in your own communities. Bless all fighting against racist assholes in Virginia. 

Written By: Ronald Anthony Wilson.