City of Helena removes Confederate memorial

HELENA, Mont. (AP) — Montana's capital city on Friday removed a memorial to Confederate soldiers that has been in a public park since 1916 after officials deemed it a threat to public safety in light of last weekend's violence in Charlottesville, Virginia.

A small group of people opposing the fountain's removal in Helena had stood watch through the night. Police said two people were arrested, but later released, after defying orders to leave the site while crews began dismantling the granite fountain donated to the city more than a century ago by the United Daughters of the Confederacy.

"We're just trying to preserve this monument," said Tony Crew, 28, who stood by with a huge American flag as city crews fenced off the fountain.