A federal judge, appointed by former President Donald Trump, has issued a temporary restraining order to halt the removal of a Confederate memorial in Arlington National Cemetery. The order, issued by Judge Rossie Alston, blocks any actions to deconstruct, tear down, remove, or alter the memorial. The judge emphasized the seriousness of the case and warned of possible sanctions if the representations made by the plaintiffs were untrue or exaggerated.
The request for the restraining order was made by a group called Defend Arlington, which is affiliated with the organization Save Southern Heritage Florida. The group sued the Department of Defense over its decision to remove the memorial, arguing that it would desecrate and damage the longstanding grave marker and impede its eligibility for listing on the National Register of Historic Places.
Arlington National Cemetery had previously stated that it would not remove the base of the monument to avoid causing any damage. However, the U.S. Army had already begun disassembling the monument before the court issued the temporary restraining order. The Army is now complying with the order and has ceased the work.
The Confederate memorial, unveiled in 1914, features a bronze woman standing on a 32-foot pedestal and represents the American South. It includes various figures, including a Black woman depicted as “Mammy” and an enslaved man following his owner to war. Last year, an independent commission recommended the removal of the memorial as part of a report to Congress on renaming military bases and assets that commemorate the Confederacy.
House Republicans have expressed opposition to the commission’s recommendation, arguing that it overstepped its authority. More than 40 House Republicans wrote to Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin to voice their concerns.
The temporary restraining order is set to expire on Wednesday night, and a hearing is scheduled for 10 a.m. EST to determine whether the judge’s order will remain in place.
