A statue of Albert Pike, a brigadier-general in the Confederate Army, stands in Northwest Washington, Thursday, Aug. 17, 2017. (Alex Brandon/Associated Press)
Share and Follow

WASHINGTON (The Hill) — A toppled statue dedicated to the memory of Confederate officer Albert Pike will soon be reinstalled in Washington, D.C., according to the Department of Interior. 

The statue will be back in Judiciary Square by October, according to The Washington Post, who first reported the move. It comes a year ahead of the nation’s 250th founding anniversary, a milestone President Trump has pledged to mark with tributes to American history in Washington through his “Making the District of Columbia Beautiful” executive order. 

A statue of Albert Pike, a brigadier-general in the Confederate Army, stands in Northwest Washington, Thursday, Aug. 17, 2017. (Alex Brandon/Associated Press)
A statue of Albert Pike, a brigadier-general in the Confederate Army, stands in Northwest Washington, Thursday, Aug. 17, 2017. (Alex Brandon/Associated Press)

In the order, Trump says “monuments, museums, and buildings should reflect and inspire awe and appreciation for our Nation’s strength, greatness, and heritage.”

Pike’s contributions to the country’s history fit the mold. 

“This project reflects our commitment to the responsible stewardship of public lands and the preservation of our nation’s cultural resources,” a spokesperson for the Department said in a Tuesday statement to The Hill. 

But in 2020, demonstrators removed the sculpture by hand following the death of George Floyd at the hands of police officers.

Pike’s 27-foot-tall bronze and marble statue was erected more than a century ago, in 1901. The measure was aimed at paying homage to his history as a brigadier general in the Confederate army and prominent figure in Scottish Rite Freemasonry. 

He was also a member of the Know Nothing Party, known for its strong anti-immigration stance.

As the Trump administration lauds the statue’s reinstalment, local leaders remain in favor of keeping Pike out of street view. 

“I’ve long believed Confederate statues should be placed in museums as historical artifacts, not remain in locations that imply honor. A statue honoring a racist and a traitor has no place on the streets of D.C.,” Congresswoman Eleanor Norton Holmes (D-D.C.) said in a statement to The Post. 

The D.C. Scottish Rite also said in 2017 the statue had become “the subject of contention and escalating controversy” and that the group would agree to its removal, per the outlet. 

Share and Follow
You May Also Like

Flagler County Transforms Seized Drug Funds into Lifesaving Sheriff’s Helicopter Acquisition

BUNNELL, Fla. – Flagler County has introduced a cutting-edge resource to aid…

Six Individuals Detained Following RCSO Search at Augusta Hotel

AUGUSTA, Ga. () – In a coordinated operation on Wednesday, the Richmond…

SC Lawmakers Clash Over Closed Primaries and Controversial Ten Commandments School Displays

In Columbia, South Carolina, two significant legislative proposals are currently under discussion…

Effingham Schools Set to Implement New District Boundaries

SAVANNAH, Ga. () — Effingham County School authorities are gearing up to…

Ex-Uvalde Officer Cleared in Trial Regarding Police Response to Robb Elementary Incident

A former police officer from Uvalde was found not guilty on Wednesday…

Major Drug Bust in Bristol: Authorities Seize Significant Fentanyl and Meth Haul

On Monday night, a notable drug bust took place in Bristol, Virginia,…

Chatham Police Alert: Teenagers Caught in Hazardous Social Media Trend – What Parents Must Know!

CHATHAM, Ill. (WCIA) — The Chatham Police Department is advising parents to…

Tenants Push for St. Pete to Acquire Morgan Apartments Amid Foreclosure Crisis

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (WFLA) — The Morgan apartments in St. Petersburg are…