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Injunction extended against removing Lee statue in Virginia

Injunction extended against removing Lee statue in Virginia
Posted at 8:38 AM, Jun 18, 2020
and last updated 2020-06-18 11:38:35-04

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — A judge has indefinitely extended an injunction preventing the Virginia governor from removing a historic statue of Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee from Richmond's famed Monument Avenue.

America Protests Confederate Monuments
An inspection crew from the Virginia Department of General Services take measurements as they inspect the statue of Confederate General Robert E. Lee on Monument Avenue Monday June. 8, 2020, in Richmond, Va. Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam has ordered the removal of the statue. (AP Photo/Steve Helber)

Richmond Circuit Court Judge Bradley Cavedo made the decision Thursday after hearing from attorneys for the state and for the plaintiff in a lawsuit against Gov Ralph Northam.

America Protests Confederate Monuments
An inspection crew from the Virginia Department of General Services takes measurements as they inspect the statue of Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee on Monument Avenue Monday June 8, 2020, in Richmond, Va. Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam has ordered the removal of the statue. (AP Photo/Steve Helber)

He gave the plantiff another 21 days to refile a new complaint.

The 12-ton 21-foot-tall statue has stood in a prominent spot along Monument Avenue since 1890.

America Protests Confederate Monuments
Workers for The Virginia Department of General Services install concrete barriers around the statue of Confederate General Robert E. Lee on Monument Avenue Wednesday June 17, 2020, in Richmond, Va. The barriers are intended to protect the safety of demonstrators as well as the structure itself. (AP Photo/Steve Helber)

Northam ordered its removal earlier this month, citing the pain gripping the country over the death of George Floyd.