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Live updates from Robert E. Lee: Workers bring down statue

Advocate staff report
A cloud of smoke obscured a crane as it struggles to get into place to take down the Robert E. Lee statue from Lee Circle in New Orleans on Friday, May 19, 2017.
A cloud of smoke obscured a crane as it struggles to get into place to take down the Robert E. Lee statue from Lee Circle in New Orleans on Friday, May 19, 2017. The Advocate/WWL-TV

The city of New Orleans is taking down a prominent statue of Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee on Friday, completing the city's removal of four Confederate-related statues that some called divisive.

Unlike the first three statues, city officials plan to take Lee's statue down during the day, with Mayor Mitch Landrieu giving a major speech Friday afternoon to explain his reasoning.

You can follow the news of the event with our media partner, The Advocate, by clicking here.

This story was originally published May 19, 2017 at 3:48 PM with the headline "Live updates from Robert E. Lee: Workers bring down statue."

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