Penn State Removed the Joe Paterno Statue...Good For Them!!!

Police lined the front of the stadium as construction workers began their task.

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Image by John Beale / AP

A fence with a tarp blocked the scene from the public.

Image by John Beale / AP

Image by Christopher Weddle / AP

Image by John Beale / AP

A fork-lift helped with the removal.

Image by Christopher Weddle / AP

An unnamed woman cries, watching the scene.

Image by Christopher Weddle / AP

Posted about 14 hours ago

UPDATE: The Paterno Family Has Released A Statement

Tearing down the statue of Joe Paterno does not serve the victims of Jerry Sandusky’s horrible crimes or help heal the Penn State Community. We believe the only way to help the victims is to uncover the full truth. The Freeh report, though it has been accepted by the media as the definitive conclusion on the Sandusky scandal, is the equivalent of an indictment — a charging document written by a prosecutor — and an incomplete and unofficial one at that.

To those who truly want to know the truth about Sandusky, it should matter that Joe Paterno has never had a hearing; that his legal counsel has never been able to interview key witnesses, all of whom are represented by lawyers and therefore unavailable; that there has never been an opportunity to review critical evidence which has not been made public; that selective evidence and the opinion of Mr Freeh is treated as the equivalent of a fair trial. Despite this obviously flawed and one-sided presentation, the University believes it must acquiesce and accept that Joe Paterno has been given a fair and complete hearing. We think the better course would have been for the University to take a strong stand in support of due process so that the complete truth can be uncovered.

It is not the University’s responsibility to defend or protect Joe Paterno. But they at least should have acknowledged that important legal cases are still pending and that the record on Joe Paterno, the Board and other key players is far from complete.