Confederate statue torn down during anti-racism protests reinstalled in Washington

October 28, 2025

President Donald Trump has ordered the reinstallation of a statue honoring Confederate General Albert Pike in Washington, D.C., which protesters toppled and burned during 2020 demonstrations following George Floyd's murder. The National Park Service restored the controversial monument, originally erected in 1901, citing federal historic preservation laws and Trump's executive order titled "Restoring Truth and Sanity to American History. " D.C. Delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton strongly opposes the restoration, arguing that Pike fought against the United States and that Confederate statues belong in museums rather than public spaces suggesting honor.

Who is affected

District of Columbia residents and local government representatives, particularly Democratic Delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton
Military service members (according to Holmes Norton's statement)
The National Park Service
Anti-racism protesters who originally removed the statue in 2020
The Freemasons organization, specifically the Scottish Rite of Freemasonry

What action is being taken

The National Park Service is conducting "historic preservation work" to reinstall the refurbished Albert Pike statue
President Trump is ordering Confederate statues and paintings to be reinstalled across government properties

Why it matters

This restoration represents a significant reversal of the social justice movement's achievements during 2020, when over 300 Confederate monuments were removed nationwide following George Floyd's murder. The decision reignites debates about how America commemorates its history, particularly regarding figures who fought against the United States and are accused of white supremacist connections. The placement of Confederate monuments in public spaces continues to be contentious because it signals governmental endorsement rather than historical documentation, affecting how communities reconcile with systemic racism and the Civil War's legacy.

What's next

No explicit next steps stated in the article

Read full article from source: BBC