On Monday, a federal judge appointed by President Trump granted a temporary restraining order, pausing the removal of a Confederate memorial in Arlington National Cemetery.
The statue was in the process of being dismantled on Wednesday before the Judge issued his restraining order.
US District Judge Rossie Alston was responsible for issuing the restraining order, and a hearing has been scheduled for Wednesday.
BREAKING: Trump appointed U.S. District Judge Rossie Alston has issued a restraining order halting the removal of a Confederate memorial at Arlington National Cemetery.
— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) December 18, 2023
The memorial removal began on Monday but was halted after Alston’s order was issued.
Alston explained that… pic.twitter.com/FKQS2aEVPe
NBC Washington reported:
A federal judge on Monday issued a temporary restraining order barring removal of a memorial to Confederate soldiers at Arlington National Cemetery.
A group called Defend Arlington, affiliated with a group called Save Southern Heritage Florida, filed a lawsuit Sunday in federal court in Alexandria, Virginia, seeking the restraining order. A hearing has been scheduled for Wednesday.
Work to remove the memorial had begun Monday before the restraining order was issued, but the memorial remains in place on cemetery grounds.
The cemetery had said on Friday that it expected to complete the removal this week. It said the removal was required by Congress, and that it was complying with environmental and historic-preservation regulations.
BREAKING: Trump-appointed Judge Rossie Alston has issued a temporary restraining order halting the removal of the Reconciliation Monument at Arlington National Cemetery. pic.twitter.com/7AyGspadZs
— Rep. Andrew Clyde (@Rep_Clyde) December 18, 2023