PORTSMOUTH, Va. (WAVY) – Protesters in Portsmouth spray painted the Confederate monument in the city Wednesday, decapitated all four soldier statues and dismantled other parts.
A man was seriously hurt when one of the statues toppled.
The question about who owns the monument has been a major roadblock in the city’s years-long quest to remove it. But, on Wednesday, the City Attorney said he believed the city does in fact own it based on historical records.
RELATED: Portsmouth Confederate monument broken apart hours after city moves forward in relocation process
Destructive protests broke out Wednesday night by demonstrators upset with city council’s timeline to move the monument. Below are images from the protest (click on the image to enlarge it).
Protesters gather in Portsmouth at the Confederate monument. A man was injured when demonstrators toppled one of the soldier statues. (WAVY photo) 
Protesters gather in Portsmouth at the Confederate monument. A man was injured when demonstrators toppled one of the soldier statues. (WAVY photo) 
Protesters gather in Portsmouth at the Confederate monument. A man was injured when demonstrators toppled one of the soldier statues. (Photo credit: Jomarie Javier) 
Protesters gather in Portsmouth at the Confederate monument. A man was injured when demonstrators toppled one of the soldier statues. (Photo credit: Jomarie Javier) 
Protesters gather in Portsmouth at the Confederate monument. A man was injured when demonstrators toppled one of the soldier statues. (Photo credit: Jomarie Javier) 
Protesters gather in Portsmouth at the Confederate monument. A man was injured when demonstrators toppled one of the soldier statues. (Photo credit: Jomarie Javier) 
Protesters gather in Portsmouth at the Confederate monument. A man was injured when demonstrators toppled one of the soldier statues. (Photo credit: Jomarie Javier) 
Protesters gather in Portsmouth at the Confederate monument. A man was injured when demonstrators toppled one of the soldier statues. (Photo credit: Jomarie Javier) 
Protesters gather in Portsmouth at the Confederate monument. A man was injured when demonstrators toppled one of the soldier statues. (Photo credit: Jomarie Javier) 
Protesters gather in Portsmouth at the Confederate monument. A man was injured when demonstrators toppled one of the soldier statues. (Photo credit: Jomarie Javier) 
Protesters gather in Portsmouth at the Confederate monument. (Photo credit: Jomarie Javier) 
Protesters covered the Portsmouth Confederate monument in paint on Wednesday, June 10, 2020 (Photo courtesy: E. Martin Labat, MBA) 
Drone 10 flew over the Portsmouth Confederate Monument on June 11, 2020, the morning after protesters covered it with spray paint and tore parts of it down. 
Drone 10 flew over the Portsmouth Confederate Monument on June 11, 2020, the morning after protesters covered it with spray paint and tore parts of it down. 
Drone 10 flew over the Portsmouth Confederate Monument on June 11, 2020, the morning after protesters covered it with spray paint and tore parts of it down. 
Drone 10 flew over the Portsmouth Confederate Monument on June 11, 2020, the morning after protesters covered it with spray paint and tore parts of it down. 
Drone 10 flew over the Portsmouth Confederate Monument on June 11, 2020, the morning after protesters covered it with spray paint and tore parts of it down.
Protesters gather in Portsmouth at the Confederate monument. (Photo credit: Jomarie Javier) 
Protesters gather in Portsmouth at the Confederate monument. (Photo credit: Jomarie Javier) 
Protesters gather in Portsmouth at the Confederate monument. (Photo credit: Jomarie Javier) 
Protesters gather in Portsmouth at the Confederate monument. (Photo credit: Jomarie Javier) 
Protesters gather in Portsmouth at the Confederate monument. A man was injured when demonstrators toppled one of the soldier statues. (Photo credit: Jomarie Javier) 
Protesters gather in Portsmouth at the Confederate monument. (Photo credit: Jomarie Javier) 
Protesters gather in Portsmouth at the Confederate monument. (Photo credit: Jomarie Javier) 
Protesters gather in Portsmouth at the Confederate monument. (Photo credit: Jomarie Javier) 
Protesters gather in Portsmouth at the Confederate monument. (Photo credit: Jomarie Javier)
Protesters gather in Portsmouth at the Confederate monument. (Photo credit: Jomarie Javier) 
Protesters gather in Portsmouth at the Confederate monument. (Photo credit: Jomarie Javier) 
Protesters gather in Portsmouth at the Confederate monument. (Photo credit: Jomarie Javier) 
Protesters gather in Portsmouth at the Confederate monument. (Photo credit: Jomarie Javier) 
Protesters gather in Portsmouth at the Confederate monument. (Photo credit: Jomarie Javier) 
Protesters gather in Portsmouth at the Confederate monument. (Photo credit: Jomarie Javier) 
Protesters gather in Portsmouth at the Confederate monument. (Photo credit: Jomarie Javier) 
WAVY photo 
WAVY photo 
WAVY photo
