A statue honoring Confederate General Albert Pike, which was taken down during social justice protests in 2020, has been reinstalled in Washington D.C. The decision to restore the statue was made under orders from President Donald Trump, reigniting controversy surrounding Confederate monuments in the United States.
The statue of General Pike has been a long-standing point of contention, similar to many other Confederate memorials across the nation that were erected years after the Civil War. The National Park Service confirmed plans to return the refurbished statue, citing President Trump’s executive order, “Restoring Truth and Sanity to American History.”
This move has drawn criticism, with Eleanor Holmes Norton, the Democratic Delegate for Washington D.C., stating that the restoration is “offensive to members of the military who serve honorably.” She highlighted Pike’s own controversial history, including serving against the United States and misappropriating funds.
Videos circulating on Monday showed the area around the statue cordoned off with a sign indicating “Historic preservation work in progress.” The National Park Service explained that the restoration aligns with federal preservation laws and executive orders aimed at beautifying the capital and reinstating existing statues.
Historically, the Pike statue, erected in 1901, has faced calls for its removal from local government officials for years. Holmes Norton has repeatedly introduced legislation to have the statue permanently removed, emphasizing that Pike’s legacy includes actions considered dishonorable and anti-American.
Pike was also a prominent figure in Freemasonry, and the statue was funded by the Scottish Rite of Freemasonry. Critics have linked him to the formation of the Ku Klux Klan, though Masons contest this association.
The reinstallation of the statue comes amidst a broader national dialogue on symbols of the Confederacy and their place in public spaces, following the widespread protests against racial injustice ignited by the death of George Floyd.