Re “‘Tear those statues down:’ Richmonders decry mayor’s plan to put Confederate statues ‘in context,’” Free Press June 29-July 1 edition:

The City of Richmond should be the centerpiece of a reunited United States of America.

Right or wrong, all of those Confederate statues on Monument Avenue should still stand. Then many more statues of African-Americans need to be added, particularly with that wonderful tribute to Maggie L. Walker.

Richmond could be a showpiece of American history. We should then change our slogan from “Virginia Is for Lovers” to “Virginia: America’s Birthplace.”

PAUL M. LA PIERRE JR.

Richmond