''Thomas Jefferson'' (University of Virginia)

The sculpture in 2014

Thomas Jefferson is a statue of Thomas Jefferson in front of the Rotunda at the University of Virginia.

In August 2017 the statue was the target of graffiti vandalism.[1]

In September 2017 the statue was the target of protest in the context of the Charlottesville historic monument controversy and the recent Unite the Right rally.[2] Protesters accused Jefferson of being racist and a rapist.[2] They covered the statue of Jefferson in a way similar to how the city had recently covered the Jackson and Robert E. Lee sculptures.[2] Among the protesters was one person with a gun whom the police arrested for public intoxication.[3]

University of Virginia president Teresa A. Sullivan later responded by calling for civil discourse.[2]

On Friday 13 April 2018 someone vandalized the statue with graffiti which read "rapist" and "racist".[4] This day was Founder's Day, a holiday to celebrate Thomas Jefferson's birthday.[4]

References

  1. ↑ "UVa police investigating recent vandalism of Jefferson statue". The Daily Progress. 24 August 2017.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Truong, Debbie (13 September 2017). "Thomas Jefferson statue at U-Va. shrouded in black". Washington Post.
  3. ↑ Cain, Andrew (13 September 2017). "U.Va. President Teresa Sullivan: Protesters who shrouded Jefferson statue were 'desecrating' sacred ground". Richmond Times-Dispatch.
  4. 1 2 "Jefferson Statue on UVA Lawn Vandalized". nbc29.com. WVIR-TV. 13 April 2018.

Coordinates: 38°02′10″N 78°30′11″W / 38.03606°N 78.50318°W / 38.03606; -78.50318

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