A judge in Richmond, Virginia ruled yesterday that it was in the “public interest” to delay the removal of a General Robert E. Lee statute in order to make sure that the statue is not “irreparably harmed” in the process.

Governor Ralph Northam ordered its removal and placement in storage amid protests over George Floyd’s death two weeks ago in Minneapolis police custody. A spokeswoman from his office told the paper that he “remains committed to removing this divisive symbol from Virginia’s capital city, and we’re confident in his authority to do so.”

The statue, which is located on Monument Avenue, was in place for 130 years.

Virginia’s Department of General Services said in a statement that it plans to remove the statue of the Confederate general as soon as possible. But officials said it must be done safely, given the memorial’s weight and height.

“The massive statue weighs approximately 12 tons, stands 21 feet tall, and has been on a 40-foot pedestal for 130 years,” the agency said. “Meticulous planning is required to remove an aging monument of this size and scale safely.”