Protesters gather near Lee Circle for Confederate Monument protests

NEW ORLEANS, LA (WVUE) - Protesters both for and against the removal of Confederate Era monuments gathered Sunday afternoon at Lee Circle. The group, Take Em Down NOLA led a march from Congo Square to the monument.

At one time, there were nearly a thousand people in the march.

Protest leader Angela Kinlaw told those at the gathering, "Symbols are used to bond people around cultural values, that oppresses people."

At Lee Circle all day, about 150 pro monument supporters waved Confederate flags, and scuffled with the other side.

"We are here for one day, and someone will come and vandalize this monument. They won't do it today," said pro monument supporter Michael Hill.

New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu has stated that the P.G.T Beauregard Statue near City Park, the Robert E. Lee Statue at Lee Circle and the Jefferson Davis Statue in Mid City will be coming down.

The news has sparked protests and demonstrations from both sides.

On April 24, the Liberty Place Monument was taken down.

New Orleans police report three arrests during Sunday's demonstration. The three arrests stemmed from a scuffle that broke out. All three involved were charged with disturbing the peace.

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