Judge dismisses one count in Confederate statue lawsuit, but key allegations remain

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A judge this week dismissed one of three charges brought by Confederate heritage groups in a lawsuit alleging the city is not allowed to donate its General Robert E. Lee statue to a group planning to do so. to melt.

But the main allegations of the lawsuit remain and will be judged on February 1.

The Trevilian Station Battlefield Foundation and the Ratcliffe Foundation are suing the city of Charlottesville in an attempt to force the local government to take back the statue from the Jefferson School African American Heritage Center. The Charlottesville City Council donated Lee’s statue to the Center in December 2021. The organization plans to melt it down and turn the bronze into a new work of art.

Tuesday, the Hon. Paul M. Peatross denied a charge that the city violated the Freedom of Information Act during the meetings in which it voted to donate the statue to the Heritage Center.

The city received six other proposals from groups wishing to take the station. Trevilian was among them.

The two counts that allege the city violated state and local law by giving the statue to an entity that planned to destroy it remain.

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Learn about the trial and the African American Heritage Centers plan for the statue

Five years after white supremacists rallied around the Charlottesvilles Lee statue, Confederate heritage groups have sued the city in a bid to stop the Swords Into Plowshares project.

The Charlottesville City Council has voted to donate its statue of Robert E. Lee to the Jefferson School African American Heritage Center.

A few years ago, Jalane Schmidt started hearing a common refrain: we should just melt them.

After learning how many families struggled to get basic toiletries, schools across the city started providing them for free

When we make the essentials in our closets free and accessible, it’s one less thing a student has to worry about, said Bianca Johnson.

After bitter disagreement, Venable and Clark elementary schools will now be Trailblazers and Summit

I think the name Trailblazers is a bit silly, said school board member Jennifer McKeever.

Want to join the city council? This is what councilors say they look for in an acting member

“I think it will be important to appoint someone who, as much as possible, shares Sena’s perspective as a councilman,” Councilman Michael Payne said.

After Thursday, two elementary schools could have new names if the school board reaches a consensus

Venable and Clark Elementary Schools are among the first schools in the city to have their names reconsidered.

Charlottesville Councilwoman Magill resigns, remaining four members to accept nominations to appoint her as replacement

The next election to fill the seat will be in November.

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I’m the editor of Charlottesville Tomorrow and a health and safety reporter. If there’s anything you think we should investigate, please email me at [email protected]! And you can follow all the work we do by signing up to our free newsletter! I speak Spanish and I want to inform the Spanish-speaking community. If you have any questions or information I should know, please email me at [email protected].

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