Alexandria will request Confederate statue move, rename Jefferson Davis Highway (VA)

[struggle4progress]

... the Alexandria City Council voted unanimously Saturday to change the name of Jefferson Davis Highway and seek permission from the Virginia General Assembly to move a renowned statue of a Confederate soldier in historic Old Town.

The council's actions went beyond the recommendations of a task force that studied what to do about the city's controversial Confederate symbols, but not as far as some residents wanted.

After a lengthy public hearing, the council agreed to try to relocate the "Appomattox" statue from the busy intersection of Prince and Washington streets, where thousands of motorists pass it each day. The pensive and unarmed south-facing Confederate soldier would be moved to a local history museum on the same corner.

Relocating the seven-foot, bronze statue will be a heavy political lift. It cannot be moved without the agreement of the legislature, and the General Assembly passed a bill earlier this year further strengthening prohibitions against cities and counties removing war memorials. The legislation was vetoed by Gov. Terry McAuliffe (D) in March ...

http://www.richmond.com/washingtonpost/uncategorized/article_2fe6d7cb-70d9-5b5b-ad8f-6fd7abdf46d4.html

[underpants]

1. I once heard a native Virginian refer to NoVA as "Occupied Virginia"

He was a Republican.

[Cirque du So-What]

2. I must commend you for keeping up with developments on this front

I'm sure that a good many would remain unaware of the sheer volume of pushback against neoconfederate glorification without all that you do. I don't always give credit where it's due, and it"s long overdue in your case. Thanks for keeping us informed.

[struggle4progress]

3. I am delighted to spread the word to those, who dislike the neo-confederate propaganda,

that they are not alone