'Is George Floyd our new Jesus?' asks Internet as his hologram lights up Robert Lee statue in Richmond
The death of George Floyd, which sparked nationwide protests and a movement against racism, seems to have achieved another milestone. For over a century, the statue of Robert E Lee had a place in the city of Richmond but that changed on Tuesday, July 28, night. Starting at 9.30 pm ET on Tuesday, it has been replaced by a light hologram of Floyd. The area is covered in spray paint with phrases like "Black Lives Matter" and "Stop White Supremacy" following the widespread protests demanding racial equality.
According to a CNN report, ‘A Monumental Change: The George Floyd Hologram Memorial Project’ is a collaboration by Change.org and the George Floyd Foundation. As per the Richmond Times-Dispatch, Floyd's family held a preview on Monday, July 27, night at the Jefferson Davis memorial on Monument Ave., where the statue of the former president of the Confederacy had been removed by protesters in June. The CNN reports quotes Floyd’s brother, Rodney, as saying, “Since the death of my brother George, his face has been seen all over the world,” in a statement. “Now by partnering with Change.org, the hologram will allow my brother's face to be seen as a symbol for change in places where change is needed most.” The hologram starts out with fireflies that form the 3D image of Floyd, with his name depicted in graffiti on either side, according to Richmond Times-Dispatch. Designed by Kaleida Hologram Co., it was projected by Quince Imaging of Virginia, the Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder reported.
On Twitter, a user opined, “About time people remember George Floyd, and realize they are protesting for his death (not rioting). Rioting solves nothing, but more deaths and destruction.” People took to the social media platform to post updates of the event. One user appealed, “Attention Richmonders, Your appearance is required tonight at MDP Circle, everything kicks off at 8 PM! Be there, tell a friend, keep your space, wear a mask! George Floyd hologram making its debut!” Another excited user posted, “The George Floyd Foundation is going to create George Floyd holograms at places where confederate monuments have been taken down. This is great. They're going to mirror the route of the '61 Freedom Rides to go from former monument to former monument to display the hologram.” However, there was also a tweet that asked, “Is George Floyd our new Jesus?”
As per the CNN report, the event at the Lee statue is just the first of five stops in North Carolina, Georgia and other states this week. Following the route of the 1961 Freedom Rides, the hologram will replace Confederate statues as a “symbolic call to continue the fight for racial justice,” the project's organizers said. Last week, CNN had reported, the statue of Lee, along with and several other busts honoring Confederate figures, have been removed from the Virginia statehouse. The Democratic Speaker of the Virginia House of Delegates announced in a statement on Friday, July 24, that the Confederate figures were removed at her direction from the old House chamber, which was used by the body until 1904 and now serves as a museum. The process of removing the artifacts began on Thursday, July 23, evening, and was completed on Friday morning, according to the release.
Floyd, 46, was murdered on May 25 by then Minneapolis police officer, Derek Chauvin, who has since been charged with murder for kneeling on Floyd's neck for nearly eight minutes. Three officers with him who did not intervene were also charged and fired.