CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. (AP) – Officials in Charlottesville, Virginia, are trying to stop people from ripping down tarps that cover statues of Confederate generals.
The Daily Progress reported Tuesday that the city has placed plastic fencing around the monuments to Robert E. Lee and Thomas “Stonewall” Jackson. The tarps have been ripped down six times.
The coverings are a gesture of mourning for Heather Heyer. She was killed Aug. 12 when a car plowed into a group of people protesting the Unite the Right rally.
NBC 29 reported Monday that rally organizer Jason Kessler led a group to remove tarps from both statues.
Charlottesville Commonwealth’s Attorney Dave Chapman said it’s not a crime to remove the shrouds. But he said the fencing will allow authorities to file trespassing charges against anyone who goes beyond them.
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