VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. – Protestors gathered in Virginia Beach Thursday to protest a Confederate monument in the resort city.
The Democrats of America and several other groups rallied to call for the removal of a monument acknowledging “Princess Anne County Heroes."
The statue was erected in 1905.
The “Rally for Respect” took place at the base of the statue located at the intersection of Princess Anne Road and Nimmo Parkway.
In a press release, organizers said the monument,
was established as part of a wave of memorials across the South that had more to do with the scourge of Jim Crow, than recalling a lost cause, then four decades removed. Whatever the justifications of the 11,000-some citizens of Princess Anne County – most of them not even allowed to vote – had then, over a century ago, the continuing presence of the statue today is an affront to the memories of those enslaved, victims of America’s Original Sin. The monument also stands as a grave insult to the living, including our school children that find themselves within walking distance of a tribute to our nation’s saddest, ugliest chapter.
Several people were expected to speak, including Shaun Brown, 2nd Congressional District Democratic candidate, and local social justice proponent Matthew Morales.
