Some call it a symbol of pride. Others say it’s a racist symbol meant to intimidate them.
Flying high above interstate-95 near Richmond, Virginia, is a Confederate flag hanging on a 55 foot pole. A group of Virginia flaggers dedicated the huge landmark Saturday in the tiny town of Chester.
Jeffrey Newton, a son of a Confederate, says it’s just a way to remember their ancestors and educate the public about the history of the confederate. He said, “Our family has been here for almost 300 years. My great, great, grandfather Patrick Jonah Newton was with the 14th second company G Virginia Infantry.”
However, the historic flag is creating a new battle for some people. King Salim Khalfania, the executive director of the Virginia NAACP, says “The Civil War ended eons ago. But, in Virginia, with Monument Avenue and the like, we continue to have to fight this battle.”
More than 23,000 people signed an online petition saying “no” to the flag.