Angela Rye: Washington, Jefferson Statues ‘Need to Come Down’

EXCERPT:

RYE: "We have to get to the heart of the problem here. The heart of the problem is the way in which many of us were taught American history. American history is not all glorious. And even though I love John to death, I couldn't disagree more about George Washington. George Washington was a slave owner. We need to call slave owners out for what they are. Whether we think they were protecting American freedom or not, he wasn't protecting my freedom. I wasn't someone who— my ancestors weren't deemed human beings to him. To me, I don't care if it's a George Washington statue or a Thomas Jefferson statue, or a Robert E. Lee statue, they all need to come down."