A group in Danville, Virginia is flying one of the largest Confederate flags in the country. They're protesting the city council's decision to remove the flag from the grounds of a local landmark.
Just outside of Danville along the US 29 Bypass, a 30 x 50 foot Confederate flag stands tall. The Heritage Preservation Association and a few other groups are behind the massive display.
They want the city to put back the Confederate flag that was removed from the Sutherlin Mansion last summer. That's when council approved an ordinance that limits what type of flags can fly on city property. Now only three flags are flown: The United States flag, The State of Virginia flag and the POW/MIA flag.
Danville mayor John Gilstrap says he supports their right to fly the confederate flag on private property, but he stands by the city's decision.
“It certainly represented people that felt strongly about Southern heritage, but the flag certainly doesn't represent all of the United States,” says Gilstrap.
Wayne Byrd with the Heritage Preservation Association grew up in Danville and says the Confederate flag has been at the mansion for 20 years. He says this is just another example of political correctness in government.
“I'm upset with my own hometown that all of us trying to do a little part of history here and certain individuals with an agenda chose to attack our history and our heritage,” says Byrd.
Historical groups are fighting the issue in court. Multiple lawsuits have been filed, but the Virginia Supreme Court recently said it wouldn't hear an appeal in the case. HPA attorneys have filed a petition asking to court to reconsider.
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