The Liberty Monument, which commemorates whites who tried to topple a biracial post-Civil War government in New Orleans, was taken away in pieces around 5:35 a.m. after a few hours of work.

A court is expected to hear arguments on whether New Orleans should be able to remove four Confederate monuments.

President Barack Obama held out the people of New Orleans on Thursday as an extraordinary example of renewal and resilience 10 years after the devastation of Hurricane Katrina.