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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsVirginia's lone black statewide official sits out Robert E. Lee tribute
RICHMOND, VA - JAN 18: Virginia Lt Governor Justin Fairfax (D) stepped off the rostrum in the Virginia Senate as a member paid tribute to Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee January 18, 2019, in Richmond, Virginia. (Laura Vozzella/TWP)
By Laura Vozzella January 18 at 3:05 PM
RICHMOND Lt. Gov. Justin Fairfax, only the second African American elected to statewide office in Virginia, briefly bowed out of his duties in the state Senate on Friday in protest of a tribute to Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee.
Fairfax (D), who normally presides over Richmonds upper chamber, stepped off the dais and let a Republican wield the gavel while Sen. Richard Stuart (R-King George) marked Lees 212th birthday with praise for a great Virginian and a great American.
I believe there are certain people in history we should honor that way in the Senate .?.?. and I dont believe that he is one of them, Fairfax, a descendant of slaves, said in an interview afterward. I think its very divisive to do what was done there, particularly in light of the history that were now commemorating 400 years since the first enslaved Africans came to the commonwealth of Virginia.
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Virginia's lone black statewide official sits out Robert E. Lee tribute (Original Post)
chimpymustgo
Jan 2019
OP
Lee has his lasting memorial, known to all Americans: the great cemetery at Arlington
struggle4progress
Jan 2019
#1
It's such a turn-around in public attitudes here in the South. The statues, the flags are
chimpymustgo
Jan 2019
#3
struggle4progress
(118,379 posts)1. Lee has his lasting memorial, known to all Americans: the great cemetery at Arlington
rogue emissary
(3,148 posts)2. Glad he is highlighting how offensive it is to celebrate
Lee.
chimpymustgo
(12,774 posts)3. It's such a turn-around in public attitudes here in the South. The statues, the flags are
coming down. Still some resistance, but many more seem to "get" it.
PDittie
(8,322 posts)4. Today is Lee's birthday, aka Confederate Heroes Day in Texas
If it seems oddly coincidental that Confederate Heroes Day shows up on the same weekend we remember Dr. Martin Luther King, thats because its not a coincidence.
https://www.politicalorphans.com/its-still-confederate-heroes-day-in-texas/