Protesters topple, burn Confederate Albert Pike statue in DC
WASHINGTON - UPDATE (9:50 a.m.): FOX 5's Stephanie Ramirez reports District maintenance crews are removing the Albert Pike statue from its perch near 3rd and D streets NW.
ORIGINAL: In the wake of Juneteenth rallies, protesters pulled down and burned a statue of Albert Pike in D.C. late Friday night.
Between 80 and 100 people were gathered around the statue around 11 p.m.
Hours after throwing ropes around the statue - it came down around 11:15 p.m.
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The statue on 3rd and D Streets, Northwest is the only monument Confederate monument in the nation’s capital.
Social justice demonstrations have flared up nationwide after the killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis.
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Many of these demonstrations have routinely included the vandalism or destruction of monuments celebrating Confederate figures – or other public figures associated with racism.
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The Albert Pike statue has been a topic of controversy in D.C. for a number of years.
President Trump responded to the incident via Twitter: