'Nazis' spray-paint removed from Robert E. Lee statue in Dallas

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A statue of Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee near Uptown Dallas was vandalized.

A crew of city workers went to Lee Park early Saturday to power-wash the spray-painted word "Nazis" off of the statue, one of three Confederate monuments in the city.

A police spokeswoman said extra patrols will be in the park to prevent further vandalism.

City officials have been discussing whether to remove or relocate the city's Confederate statues, a conversation hastened by violence that broke out in Charlottesville, Virginia last weekend.

“We will not tolerate unlawful behavior, including acts of vandalism or violence, regardless of one's beliefs. The Mayor's Task Force on Confederate Monuments will be ready with a recommendation by early October,” Dallas Mayor Mike Rawlings said in a statement.

FOX 4 spoke to several people visiting the monuments Saturday. Most believe they should be relocated or removed but there are a few who are defiant in protecting them.

"We're not two nations any longer. We are one nation. We've had a war that destroyed many lives, and if we can begin to come together and then learn from our history, we can begin to move forward,” said Clarence Glover.

"It's the right thing for it to still be up. It doesn't represent hate. It doesn't represent nothing like that," said a man named Dustin.

"I believe they should be brought down because they are a monument to a failed attempt to dissolve the union, the United States of America,” Terry Wheelock said.

The city's four black city councilmen held a joint news conference Friday to say they supported removing the statues as a way to start healing the city's racist past.