City of Alexandria, Virginia
________________
MEMORANDUM
DATE: SEPTEMBER 2, 2015
TO: THE HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL
FROM: MARK B. JINKS, CITY MANAGER/s/
DOCKET TITLE:
TITLE
Consideration of Memorials To and Symbols of the Confederacy on City of Alexandria Property.
BODY
_________________________________________________________________
ISSUE: Memorials to and symbols of the Confederacy on City of Alexandria property.
RECOMMENDATION: That City Council consider holding a public hearing on a date to be determined, and after that hearing decide what actions it wishes to take with respect to various symbols of the Confederacy on City property including: (1) the flying of any flags of the Confederacy, (2) the Appomattox statue at Prince and South Washington Streets, (3) the name of Jefferson Davis Highway, and (4) the names of other City streets that have been named after Confederate military leaders.
DISCUSSION: Following the June murder of 9 people at an evening Bible study in Charleston, South Carolina, there was renewed interest throughout the country in eliminating in public places many of the symbols of and memorials to the Confederacy, ranging from flags to statutes and building and highway names. Here in Alexandria, a number of people have asked that the City re-examine its own use of symbols and memorials connected to the Confederacy.
Among the things that people have questioned is the practice of flying of the first flag of the Confederate States of America on the corners of Prince and South Washington Streets twice a year, the Appomattox statue on South Washington Street, the use of the names of Confederate generals and other leaders for City streets, and in particular the name-Jefferson Davis, the President of the Confederate States of America-that is assigned to parts of Route 1 in Alexandria and other Virginia localities.
Flying the Confederate States of America Flag: In 1970, Alexandria Ci...
Click here for full text