CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – After standing watch for more than a century, the statue of a Confederate soldier has been removed from its pedestal in downtown Charlottesville.

The figure, known as “At Ready,” was located near the site of a white nationalist rally that turned violent three years ago.

Crowds cheered Saturday as the monument was removed from its base and lifted to the ground.

The bronze statue was taken down from its plinth in front of the Albemarle County courthouse, where it had stood since 1909, early on Saturday.

About 100 people gathered nearby. Many danced to music as the monument, along with a cannon, were removed.

Albemarle County voted to dismantle the statue in August, the first decision to be made under a new law for removing Civil War monuments in Virginia introduced earlier this year.