KNEE JERK REACTION: THE FENCE AROUND MARCUS-DAVID PETERS CIRCLE IS PROBABLY PREMATURE

When I heard the news that the State had placed fencing around Marcus-David Peters Circle, I was thinking that removal of the Lee statue was imminent.

If the statue is coming down in a matter of days, moving people out and installing fencing to secure the area makes complete sense. The area should be cleared to brace for removal. That makes sense to you, right?

As the day went on and I learned more about the posture of the legal case that has prevented the statue from being removed since last July, I became a little more pessimistic that removal is coming in the next few days.

As reported in the RTD, an appeal was filed on Monday alleging a half dozen errors in the original case. According to the plaintiffs’ lawyer, the Supreme Court of Virginia will decide if they will take the appeal in a few weeks. Attorney General Mark Herring has asked for the appeal to expedited. If the VA Supreme Court does that, we’ll know if the appeal has merit sooner than a few weeks. All of this could be a matter of days, possibly weeks, possibly months, depending on what the Virginia Supreme Court does.

If that is the case, moving people out and fencing off the area now seems a bit premature. I have complete confidence in the State’s case. The State has already won once. I am certain that Governor Ralph Northam has done the right thing and is committed to removing the Lee statue. I am convinced that Mark Herring is committed to removal and has taken the right legal actions to date.

I think Marcus-David Peters Circle has become something extremely special to the city and the nation. It represents the future and, in many ways, the hope and promise of a new Richmond, and a new Virginia. The community has made the Circle a place of art, reflection, celebration, meditation, conversation, and more.

I understand that it was not always sweet at the Circle. I understand many days over the summer were difficult — for activists, residence, journalists, photographers, educators, law enforcement, casual visitors, etc. But today is not yesterday. There has been a lot of evolution at Marcus-David Peters Circle. And, I think, it represents more promise than past.

With that, I hope that the State and the city work together to encourage daytime access for citizens and special events until a date for removal is formally set.

Marcus-David Peters Circle is Richmond’s 5 Pointz. It should be accessible and protected. #WESEEIT

cover photo by Landon Shroder @Radio_tokyo