Confederate General Albert Pike Statue to be Reinstalled in Washington, D.C. After Restoration
A Confederate general statue that was torn down and burned by demonstrators in Washington, D.C. in 2020 is set to be reinstalled, according to the National Park Service. The bronze statue of Confederate Gen. Albert Pike is currently undergoing restoration work, as shown in a photo shared by officials. The restoration is in line with historic preservation laws and recent executive orders to enhance the appearance of the nation's capital and reinstate existing statues.
During a protest in June 2020, demonstrators used ropes to topple the statue outside the Metropolitan Police Department headquarters and set it on fire. Following the incident, Mayor Muriel Bowser condemned the destruction of property, and President Donald Trump called for the statue to be reinstated. The Park Service aims to have the statue back in place by October, with crews starting site preparation to repair the damaged masonry plinth.
The controversial Pike statue, erected in 1901, has been a subject of debate for years. Confederate Gen. Albert Pike was also a prominent figure in the Freemasons, who advocated for the statue's construction. Despite efforts by D.C. officials to remove the statue, including calls from the D.C. Council in 1992 and bills introduced by Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton in Congress, the statue remained in place. Stay tuned to NBC Washington for further updates on this ongoing story.