Confederate General J.E.B Stuart is the latest statue to come down on Richmond’s Monument Avenue. Crews removed Stuart Tuesday morning.
City officials estimate they’ll spend just under $2 million removing monuments in the state’s capital city. Now there’s an effort underway to foot that bill with private funds.
Shannon Harton is a realtor who’s lived in Richmond for 30 years, and he goes to church on Monument Avenue. He wanted to contribute to the cause of bringing down the monuments.
But when he asked his friend, the Mayor’s Chief of Staff, if anyone was raising money to support the effort -- the answer was no. So Harton decided to step in. He partnered with a local nonprofit and spearheaded a fundraising campaign.
“Even if it was just my money alone I’d be happy with that, but I’m glad that so many other concerned Richmonders and even Virginians -- and at some point maybe even beyond Virginians -- have this route to chip in and participate in this historic moment,” Harton said during a phone interview earlier this week.
Harton joined forces with the affordable housing nonprofit, The Maggie Walker Community Land Trust. The nonprofit will be responsible for the funds, eventually donating them to the city.
In the first week, they’ve raised just over $20,000. And while that’s still a far cry from the approximately $2 million needed, Harton is hopeful.
“I told myself early on I’m not going to be disappointed if we don’t make the goal. I won’t even be disappointed if we don’t make halfway of the goal,” Harton said. “Every dollar we raise is a dollar that’s not taken away from schools and roads and parks and public housing and all these other things that the city needs to get done.”
The funds are being raised through Facebook and GoFundMe.
This report, provided by Virginia Public Radio, was made possible with support from the Virginia Education Association.
