A brief history (of a good town).
Monticello, home to Thomas Jefferson
American statesman, diplomat, lawyer, architect, musician, philosopher, slave owner and 'Founding Father' who served as the third president of the United States. (Virginia, 1743-1826)
In August of 2017, a modern Charlottesville became the center of a bloody past, by national, well organized far-right groups marching under the name, "Unite the Right".
Confederate General, Robert E. Lee. (Virginia, 1807-1870)
Some say the initial impetus for the Unite the Right march was the threat of removal of a divided people's Confederate Lee's statue (a last stand of sorts) from historic Lee Park, located in downtown Charlottesville. Two days of violent confrontation resulted - from a mob of far-right protesters clashing with mostly peaceful counter-demonstrators. Today, the Robert E. Lee statue remains.
Confederate Lt. General, Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson. (Virginia, 1824-1863)
During the two-day August stand-off, both the Lee statue and one of a large, imposing "Stonewall" Jackson were each vandalized by counter-demonstrators. The graffiti left on the carved granite base of "Stonewall" Jackson's monument read, "1619" - a reference to the date the first enslaved Africans were brought to Virginia. This statue, also still stands.
On the rally's second day, on August 12th, with white supremacists loudly protesting under the 'Unite the Right' siege - a Charlottesville local, Heather D. Heyer was group targeted, plowed over by an on-rushing car and killed. A self-admitted "neo-Nazi" named James A. Fields, Jr, of Ohio, was later convicted of multiple federal hate crimes and sentenced to 'life'. That same jury recommended 'life in prison' with an additional 419 years.
The victim, Heather Heyer was reportedly a well-liked and impassioned 32 year old 'C-ville' resident, who worked as a bartender, waitress, and part-time para-legal. (Virginia, 1985-2017)
In the photo below, a small painted portrait is referenced as Queen Charlotte (wife of King George III). Supposedly the "black Queen" of Great Britain and later Queen of the United Kingdom. (1744 -1818)
Virginia Senator, Tim Kaine - Visiting the memorial site shortly after Heather Heyer's death. (Photo, public domain).
Approaching the fourth anniversary, the site today (not forgotten).
Update
Little did I know, that 2 days after my leaving Charlottesville, the statues would come down. Few knew.
NPR link;
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