Tuesday, June 15, 1999
By GORDON HICKEY
Richmond Times-Dispatch Staff Writer

The group of 19 people who will decide the fate of Gen. Robert E. Lee's portrait held its first meeting yesterday morning, and the members heard from the general's main antagonist, City Councilman Sa'ad El-Amin.

The committee also heard from Ralph Appelbaum, the designer of the Canal Walk outdoor museum that included the portrait of Lee.

"I hope [the controversy] would be resolved soon," James E. Rogers, president of the Richmond Historic Riverfront Foundation, said after yesterday's meeting.

The meeting was closed to the public, and Rogers said that future meetings also would be held in private.

The foundation is a private company and not subject to the state's open meetings laws.

But Mayor Timothy M. Kaine said public meetings "is something we'll probably talk about." He said the group wanted to have at least its first meeting in private. "It enabled people to be candid."

According to a news release from the foundation, "The committee consists of a broad-based, diverse group of community leaders." Members include politicians, business executives, religious and civic leaders, and one Indian chief.

The members were chosen in consultation with Richmond Renaissance, Rogers said.

The committee will meet again this week, he said.

"Members expressed confidence that the mural controversy can be resolved quickly and in a manner that is historically accurate and brings the community together. Furthermore, at the request of the foundation, the committee reached consensus that it will provide long-term guidance to the foundation as the Canal Walk project continues to develop," the news release from the foundation stated.

The flap over Lee's portrait started June 2 when The Times-Dispatch published a front-page picture of it being hung on the floodwall, which separates the James River from the Kanawha Canal and the Canal Walk.

El-Amin saw the picture and threatened to organize a protest and boycott of the Canal Walk if the image was not removed. He said that Lee was a pariah in the black community because he supported the South during the Civil War.

Rogers, Brenton S. Halsey, president of the Richmond Riverfront Development Corp., and James J. McCarthy Jr., executive director of that organization, agreed to take Lee's picture down.

That also brought down a portrayal of Chief Powhatan, who was attached to Lee on the mural.

The Rev. Robert Taylor, retired pastor of Fourth Baptist Church, said, "The problem that we face . . . may have been prevented if a discussion with African-Americans and other people in this community had been had."

He said he was pleased that the foundation promised to consult the committee on any future changes at the outdoor museum. "We will be able to react to it before it becomes an accomplished fact."

El-Amin yesterday had his say before the committee, as did Appelbaum.

"The committee then discussed various reactions to the original plan for the rotating mural gallery and began to explore numerous options for the installation," according to the news release.

The outdoor museum includes 29 images on 13 murals along the floodwall.

In response to Lee's removal, the Sons of Confederate Veterans started their own boycott of the Canal Walk, which is continuing.

Rogers said he had nothing to add to the information in the news release.

The Rev. Dr. Paige Chargois, national assistant director for Hope in the Cities, asked that the City Council not do anything about the Lee portrait until the committee is finished.

At least one council member, W.R. "Bill" Johnson Jr., has said he would like the council to pass a resolution calling for the restoration of Lee's portrait.

"We request that the council would not hamstring this committee and allow us to move forward," Chargois said.