In July 2015 , the Charleston church shooting caused many Southern states and communities to rethink the public display of Confederate symbols and monuments . The New Orleans mayor Mitch Landrieu called for the Liberty Place monument and statues honoring Robert E. Lee and other Confederate notables to be removed from prominent public spaces , explaining that " that 's what museums are for " . The idea drew both support and resistance and the city council voted unanimously to hold public hearings to discuss the proposal . In October 2016 , on Mischief Night , a group of angry paraders converged on the monument . The monument was covered in anti-racist graffiti and parts of the inscription were smashed with sledgehammers . When the police tried to intervene they were attacked with paint and a bonfire was lit . In December 2016 , the council voted to remove the monument , and its move was upheld by a federal appeals court in March 2017
Charleston church shooting
Charleston church shooting
Battle of Liberty Place Monument