Controversial Robert E. Lee Statue Melted Down in Secret Ceremony

The bronze statue of Confederate General Robert E. Lee, which sparked the Unite the Right rally in Charlottesville, Virginia, has been secretly melted down by the city's black history museum. The statue was removed in July 2021 and was cut into fragments before being dissolved in a furnace at a secret location. The black history museum plans to use the bronze ingots to create a piece of public artwork. The removal of Confederate statues has been a contentious issue, with opponents arguing that they represent white supremacy, while supporters claim it erases history. The Unite the Right rally in 2017 resulted in violence and the death of Heather Heyer.