Facebook Posts Distort Robert E. Lee’s Actions and Views on Slavery
Quick Take
A statue commemorating Gen. Robert E. Lee was taken down in Richmond, Virginia, on Sept. 8. Days after the statue was removed, Facebook posts about Lee misleadingly claimed he freed his slaves, and a quote from Lee referring to slavery as a “moral evil” is taken out of context, misrepresenting his attitude toward slavery.
Full Story
Protests over the death of George Floyd, a Black man who was murdered by a white police officer in May 2020, sparked a reassessment and removal of monuments and statues to Confederate figures across the U.S.
In June 2020, Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam announced plans to take down a statue of Confederate General Robert E. Lee in the state capital, Richmond. Northam’s proposal was met with opposition
