MOSCOW (Sputnik) — The removal was scheduled overnight and barricades were installed for safety reasons, the KXAN broadcaster reported from the site.
UT is relocating statues of Robert E. Lee, Albert Sidney Johnston, John Reagan & James Stephen Hogg. Read more: https://t.co/mKtjiADRVe
— UT Austin (@UTAustin) 21 августа 2017 г.
The decision was made following the university president's Greg Fenves statement calling for the removal of the statues as they have become symbols of "white supremacy." and bigotry.
The call comes mere days after a white supremacists' rally against the removal of a statue of Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee turned violent, leaving one person dead and 19 others injured.
In wake of the protest, statues of Confederate generals have been removed in numerous cities and states around the United States.