MULTIMEDIA: "Rumors of War" Unveiling Hits Snag, Literally

Richmond, Va. (Newsradiowrva.com) - "Rumors of War" was unveiled to Richmond at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts Tuesday, but not without hiccups.  The covering of statue, which offers an African-American take on Confederate iconography, became stuck in the rain and was unable to be removed from the rider's head.  It took nearly an hour for the covering to be finally taken off.

The unveiling mishap was an unfortunate ending to a celebration of African-American representation.  Mayor Levar Stoney told the crowd that while it took 100 years, now more Richmonders have a statue of a man, on a horse, that looks like them.  Chesterfield Resident Ray Richardson says the statue "flies in the face a little bit, and that's a good thing."

The statue, which looks like the Jeb Stuart Monument, but with a modern African-American rider, sits right next to the United Daughters of the Confederacy Building, and just blocks from the Stonewall Jackson Monument.  A large crowd lined Arthur Ashe Boulevard to see the unveiling.