โWhite Lives Matterโ sprayed on Richmondโs Arthur Ashe memorial
RICHMOND, Va. โ A statue of African American tennis legend Arthur Ashe on Richmond, Virginiaโs, Monument Avenue has been vandalized with the words โWhite Lives Matter.โPhotos show the monument base tagged with white spray paint and the words โwhite lives matterโ as well as the initials โWLM.โThose initials were then later painted over with โBLM.โRichmond Police said they were alerted to the vandalism Wednesday morning. Police said they have information on possible suspects. The Arthur Ashe monument was dedicated in 1996 to memorialize the Richmond native and counterbalance the string of statues on Memorial Avenue dedicated to Confederate leaders.
The Latest: Virginia city aims to move Confederate statue
___PORTSMOUTH, Va. Protesters in Portsmouth, Virginia, covered statues at a Confederate monument in the city with sheets and bags Wednesday, several hours after the citys council members had a meeting about relocating it. A white sheet that read BLM covered the fence in front of the monument after the Portsmouth city council met Tuesday to discuss its removal, WVEC-TV reported. Mayor John Rowe proposed allocating $100,000 to remove the statue and possibly relocate it to a local cemetery. During the councils meeting Tuesday, Rowe asked the city attorney if Portsmouth has the right to move the 127-year-old memorial. Reporters have a fundamental right to cover the demonstrations were seeing in Delaware and across our country, Delaware Gov.