The Latest: Confederate soldier statue in NC city defaced

DURHAM, N.C. – The Latest on growing opposition to Confederate monuments since last weekend's deadly confrontation at a white nationalist rally in Charlottesville, Virginia. (all times local):

11 a.m.

Another North Carolina city is cleaning up after vandals defaced the base of a Confederate soldier statue.

Multiple media organizations reported someone spray-painted unintelligible black letters on at least two sides of the downtown Winston-Salem memorial, but did not deface the soldier portrayed atop the base. The damage was mostly cleansed within two hours of the incident Friday night.

Police earlier issued a statement responding to queries about a downtown Ku Klux Klan rally rumored for Saturday. Police said they had received no requests from the white supremacist organization for a rally.

The Winston-Salem Journal reports the monument was erected in 1905 by the United Daughters of the Confederacy, which still claims ownership. It stands at a street corner before the former county courthouse, which was converted to private apartments.

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8:20 a.m.

Duke University has removed a statue of Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee days after it was vandalized.

The university said it removed the carved limestone likeness early Saturday morning from Duke Chapel amid a national debate about monuments to the Confederacy. A statue of Lee was at the heart of a violent protest in Charlottesville, Virginia, that turned deadly a week ago.

University president Vincent Price said in a letter to the campus community that he consulted with faculty, staff, students and alumni about the decision to remove the statue. Officials discovered early Thursday that the statue's face had been damaged by vandalism. Lee was among 10 historical figures depicted at the chapel.

On Monday in downtown Durham, a bronze Confederate statue was torn down by demonstrators.