Virginia Removes Three Confederate Memorials From Capitol Square

Virginia completed the removal of the last three Confederate statues from Capitol Square in Richmond — Stonewall Jackson, Extra Billy Smith, and Hunter McGuire — as part of a 2026 legislative effort. The figures, displayed for more than a century, were gifted to the Shenandoah Valley Battlefields Foundation for relocation to battlefield sites. Supporters argued the removals reflect who the state chooses to honor rather than erase history, while noting the ongoing reexamination of public monuments. The process, which began with earlier removals and culminated after budget negotiations, leaves Richmond with no state-owned Confederate statues on non-museum display. The Department of General Services cited Budget Item 71 #1C as the basis for the action. This transition underscores a broader shift in how public memory is organized around the Capitol, with statues moved off public display to be relocated to other sites.