Robert E. Lee Statue was Melted Down and Turned Into Art

ABC News reports the statue of Confederate General Robert E. Lee that once stood in Charlottesville, Virginia, will be melted and transformed into a piece of public art.
Charlottesville city council members motioned to remove the statue soon after the infamous Unite the Right rally that occurred in 2017.
A separate statue of General Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson was reportedly removed as well.
The Lee statue was donated to the Jefferson School African American Heritage Center.
The Jefferson School's "Swords Into Plowshares" program endeavors to rid communities of the toxicity of the past.
"Our hope... is to create something that transforms what was once toxic in our public space into something beautiful that can be more reflective of our entire community’s social values." Andrea Douglas, executive director, Jefferson School African American Heritage Center, via statement.
According to ABC News, $590,000 has already been raised for the heritage center's forthcoming public art piece.
"We’re giving people opportunities to engage with our own narratives and our own histories." Andrea Douglas, executive director, Jefferson School African American Heritage Center, via statement.
"This project offers a road map for other communities to do the same." Andrea Douglas, executive director, Jefferson School African American Heritage Center, via statement.