National Park Service to Reinstall Confederate General Albert Pike Statue Destroyed in 2020 Protests

The National Park Service (NPS) has announced plans to reinstall and refurbish a statue of Confederate General Albert Pike, which was vandalized and toppled during protests in 2020. The NPS stated that this effort aligns with federal laws on historic preservation and recent executive orders aimed at enhancing the nation's capital and restoring existing monuments. Originally authorized by Congress in 1898 and dedicated in 1901, the statue commemorates Pike's leadership in Freemasonry, notably his 32-year tenure as Sovereign Grand Commander of the Ancient Rite of Scottish Freemasonry. The statue has been kept in secure storage since its removal and is currently undergoing restoration by the NPS Historic Preservation Training Center. The decision to restore the statue has sparked political debate. Former President Donald Trump criticized local authorities for failing to prevent the destruction of the statue in 2020, calling their inaction a disgrace to the country. He also expressed support for its reinstallation, which the NPS aims to complete by October 2025. The original toppled statue was near Washington D.C.'s police headquarters. Protesters used ropes to pull it down, then set...