Legions of police officers stood watch and crowds cheered as the Robert E. Lee Confederate statue was removed from atop its pedestal. Installed in 1890, the statue that sat atop a massive pedestal was removed on September 8, 2021. Crowds of onlookers applauded as the 12 ton, 61-foot-tall statue was lowered to the ground. The statue of Lee sitting astride his horse was so large that it had to be cut in half before it could be transported away from the site. After the death of Minneapolis resident George Floyd, protesters in the city took to the streets. Marches were organized and some protesters turned their attention to the Confederate monuments in the city, demanding that these statues be removed. The plinths of many of the monuments, including the Lee Monument, were painted with brightly colored protest messages that called for police reform. Community members placed small signs that featured a photograph of different individuals around the entire base of the plinth. The signs included details about each of the encounters. During the protests, the space surrounding the monument was unofficially renamed "Marcus-David Peters Circle" - in memory of a young Richmond teacher who was killed by police while experiencing a mental health crisis. Professional signage was even installed with the new name as protesters reclaimed the space. During the protests, the space surrounding the statue became a gathering place serving as a space for voter drives, music and dance recitals, and meeting spaces to devise solutions for community issues. A community garden was even planted.