Charlottesville Judge Says Confederate Statues Don’t Have Discriminatory Message

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. (WVIR) – A Charlottesville judge is denying an equal protection claim from city attorneys over Confederate statues. Judge Richard Moore said Wednesday, September 11, that the 1904 state statute was amended several times, covers all wars, and statues don’t have a discriminatory message.

“People give the statues messages,” said Moore to the attorneys. “They speak of history, one we might not like.”

Moore’s comments come as the trial over the city’s plans to move two confederate statues finally got underway. The trial in Charlottesville Circuit Court is scheduled to take up to three days.

Judge Moore has already stated that the statues of Robert E. Lee and Thomas “Stonewall” Jackson are war memorials, and thus cannot be moved due to state code.