Washington national Cathedral dismantles two of the stained glass window depicting Confederate generals, because they «contradict the values» of the Cathedral, according to USA Today.
The Dean of the Cathedral Randy Hollerith, Chairman of the Board John Donohue and Bishop Mariann Edgar Buddhas of the Episcopal diocese of Washington announced that of the highest Cathedral Board voted to immediately remove the stained glass Windows.
«These Windows are not only consistent with our current mission to serve as a house of prayer for all people, but also prevent our important struggle for racial justice and racial reconciliation,» the statement says.
Stained glass Windows with images of generals Robert E. Lee and Thomas «Stonewall» Jackson established in 1953, will be dismantled and stored until then, until the Cathedral will not be able to find for them another use, perhaps for educational purposes.
The Cathedral belongs to the Episcopal diocese of Washington, which encompasses Washington, D.C. and part of Maryland.
There are often held funeral ceremonies for presidents. In the Cathedral said goodbye to presidents Ronald Reagan and Gerald Ford.
As the guide says of the Cathedral, they have many years of pondering over this, starting with the tragedy in Charleston, when 21-year-old Dylan Ruth shot the laity of the African Methodist Episcopal Church Emanuel.
However, the events in Charlottesville have pushed them to the final decision.
Recall that in early August there was clashes between far right groups and anti-fascist organizations. Then, one person died and dozens were injured.
«We came to the conclusion that these Windows tell an incomplete and misleading history of the country,» the letter reads. «We want to make it clear that we are not trying to get rid of history, and get rid of the stained glass Windows that are contrary to our values.»
