Grizzlies rookie Ja Morant wrote to a Kentucky judge asking for the removal of a statue of Confederate general Robert E. Lee near Murray State University.

Memphis Grizzlies guard and Rookie of the Year frontrunner Ja Morant has called for the removal of a statue honoring Confederate general Robert E. Lee that’s located in downtown Murray, Kentucky, where Morant attended college at Murray State.

In a letter to Calloway County Judge Kenneth Imes, Murray shared his concerns that the statue remains standing, especially given recent events and the Black Lives Matter movement.

“As a young Black man, I cannot stress enough how disturbing and oppressive it is to know the city still honors a Confederate war general defending white supremacy and hatred,” Morant’s letter said. “Given recent events and the Black Lives Matter movement, it is necessary to act now. We can’t change the culture of racism unless we change the celebration