If there’s one thing we can count on, it’s that Republican elected officials will almost always do the wrong thing when it comes to racial justice. Even though the country is changing and becoming more diverse, they continue to desperately cling to the past and refuse to take any part in dismantling white supremacy. Of course, this is to be expected. With a base that is overwhelmingly white and increasingly hostile toward people of color, it is not in their interest to make the country fairer and more equal for all.
This week in Virginia, the Prince William County Board of Supervisors proved this point. They had the opportunity to vote on a resolution to rename Jefferson Davis Highway. This is a move that would have signaled a move forward from the glorification of the racist Confederacy and toward a more inclusive future. Sadly, they chose not to. And that decision was rightfully met with ire and condemnation from those who attended the meeting.
The overwhelmingly Republican Prince William County Board of Supervisor (note: this is an all-white board in a majority-minority county) last night was met with chants of “Shame! Shame! Shame!” – and for good reason, as nobody would even second a motion by Supervisor Frank Principi (D) on a resolution urging a change in the name of Jefferson Davis Highway.
The only other Democrat on the board, John D. Jenkins, also sided with the Republicans. How cowardly, especially in light of an impassioned speech from a local resident who talked about the impact of these symbols on him and the community.
Some may call my reaction premature and overly sensitive, but I tell you [the story of the first time I encountered relics of the Confederacy] because that is exactly how many people of color feel who did not grow up with such blatant celebrations of the Confederacy in their daily lives. Even those who are not of slave descent – or those who are not even from communities of color – have told me that when they first moved here from somewhere else, they were shocked at having a highway named after Jefferson Davis, and that there are so many Confederate statues in our commonwealth. [...]
It is high time that our community come together and has dialogue about this issue, and the first step in that dialogue should be a strong message from our county government that they condemn white supremacy in all its forms. This goes beyond the overt hatred exhibited by neo-nazis and Klansmen marching the streets of Charlottesville; this should extend to the more subtle, more passive forms of racism and white supremacy that permeate our everyday lives. The thought that folks are outraged when we simply talk of moving Confederate statues while remaining silent at the egregious omissions from history books of the accomplishments of people of color and women should give you pause.
Hiding behind symbols that glorify white supremacy and racism is very much in line with what we’ve come to expect from Republicans. When Democrats agree with them, we have a problem. Memorials from a war fought over 150 years ago, hailing the virtues of people who lost a battle when they were on the side that was trying to divide our country in defense of slavery, are not more important than people’s right to exist without fear and racial intimidation. We’ve seen the hate and violence the defense of these symbols invites. There should be no question at this point that we should be renaming these streets and schools, and putting these statues in a museum where they belong.
Watch the video of the Board meeting below.