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National Park Service to Restore Confederate Statue in DC

story

1 day ago

Above: Pedestal of former Albert Pike statue near Judiciary Square, Washington, D.C., on Aug. 5, 2025. Image copyright: Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images

story last updated 1 day ago

The Spin

Republican narrative

Restoring the Pike statue honors America's complete historical record and follows proper legal procedures. The statue was lawfully erected by Congress in 1898 and stood for over a century before being illegally destroyed by rioters. Pike's contributions as a scholar, poet, and Masonic leader deserve recognition alongside his complex role in the Civil War.

NPS Oklahoma Historical Society

Democratic narrative

The decision to reinstall a Confederate statue sends a dangerous message about legitimizing racism and white supremacy. Pike commanded troops accused of scalping Union soldiers and may have been involved with the Ku Klux Klan after the war. Confederate monuments belong in museums as historical artifacts, not on public streets where they imply honor.

Hyperallergic