Virginia removes three more Confederate monuments from Capitol Square

Virginia’s Capitol Square in Richmond saw three Confederate statues—those of Stonewall Jackson, surgeon Hunter Holmes McGuire and former governor-general William “Extra Billy” Smith—removed this week, marking the final Confederate monuments on state-owned property. The action follows a statewide pattern of statue removals that accelerated after the 2020 “Great Awokening,” reaching even remote towns and historic sites. Veteran journalist Jim Bacon explained that discussions about Confederate symbols have existed since the 1990s, evolving from debates over new monuments to calls for reinterpretation and ultimately removal.

He attributes the shift to two forces: a surge in progressive politics after George Floyd’s death and a massive influx of residents from outside the South who lack ties to the region’s Civil War legacy. Commentators such as Scott Greer label the resulting cultural climate “Sunbeltism,” an optimistic, present-oriented outlook that replaces the old Lost-Cause narrative. The removal underscores how demographic change is reshaping Virginia’s public spaces and collective memory.