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Virginia to remove Confederate flag from all state-issued license plates Virginia to remove Confederate flag from all state-issued license plates
(about 1 hour later)
Related: Mississippi to propose removal of Confederate emblem from state flagRelated: Mississippi to propose removal of Confederate emblem from state flag
Virginia plans to remove the image of the Confederate flag from all state-issued vehicle license plates, Governor Terry McAuliffe announced on Tuesday, calling the symbol “divisive and hurtful”.Virginia plans to remove the image of the Confederate flag from all state-issued vehicle license plates, Governor Terry McAuliffe announced on Tuesday, calling the symbol “divisive and hurtful”.
The flag is under fresh scrutiny in the wake of the mass shooting at Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal church in Charleston, South Carolina, on 17 June. Nine churchgoers were killed.The flag is under fresh scrutiny in the wake of the mass shooting at Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal church in Charleston, South Carolina, on 17 June. Nine churchgoers were killed.
Photographs of the suspect, Dylann Roof, show him holding a Confederate flag.Photographs of the suspect, Dylann Roof, show him holding a Confederate flag.
The move comes after South Carolina’s governor called for the flag to be removed from the statehouse grounds and lawmakers in Mississippi plan to propose legislation to remove the Confederate emblem from the state flag.The move comes after South Carolina’s governor called for the flag to be removed from the statehouse grounds and lawmakers in Mississippi plan to propose legislation to remove the Confederate emblem from the state flag.
Calling the move a “step forward” in his goal of creating a state “open and welcoming to everyone”, McAuliffe also praised the push by Governor Nikki Haley of South Carolina to stop the flag being flown outside the state capitol there.Calling the move a “step forward” in his goal of creating a state “open and welcoming to everyone”, McAuliffe also praised the push by Governor Nikki Haley of South Carolina to stop the flag being flown outside the state capitol there.
Related: Confederate flag debate: what US politicians said, and when
“Although the battle flag is not flown here on Capitol Square, it has been the subject of considerable controversy and it continues to divide many of our people,” McAuliffe said in a speech in Richmond, Virginia, on Tuesday.“Although the battle flag is not flown here on Capitol Square, it has been the subject of considerable controversy and it continues to divide many of our people,” McAuliffe said in a speech in Richmond, Virginia, on Tuesday.
He began his speech by sending the “heartfelt sympathies” of Virginians to those killed and bereaved by the church shooting in Charleston, South Carolina, last week and to the city as a whole for the “horrific tragedy” it had suffered in the massacre at a historic black church.He began his speech by sending the “heartfelt sympathies” of Virginians to those killed and bereaved by the church shooting in Charleston, South Carolina, last week and to the city as a whole for the “horrific tragedy” it had suffered in the massacre at a historic black church.
“In the days since last week’s tragic shooting, the people of Charleston have displayed unparalleled unity and courage and they have made all Americans proud,” he said.“In the days since last week’s tragic shooting, the people of Charleston have displayed unparalleled unity and courage and they have made all Americans proud,” he said.
He then commended Haley for calling on Monday for the removal of the Confederate battle flag from the South Carolina state capitol grounds in Columbia.He then commended Haley for calling on Monday for the removal of the Confederate battle flag from the South Carolina state capitol grounds in Columbia.
“As Governor Haley said yesterday, her state can ill afford to let this symbol continue to divide the people of South Carolina. I believe the same is true here in Virginia,” the governor said.“As Governor Haley said yesterday, her state can ill afford to let this symbol continue to divide the people of South Carolina. I believe the same is true here in Virginia,” the governor said.
“Even its display on state-issued license tags is, in my view, unnecessarily divisive and hurtful to too many of our people,” he said.“Even its display on state-issued license tags is, in my view, unnecessarily divisive and hurtful to too many of our people,” he said.
He then announced that he had directed the state’s transportation secretary to develop a plan to remove the symbol of the Confederate flag from state-issued license plates, where it is not universally displayed but features on a specific type of plate.He then announced that he had directed the state’s transportation secretary to develop a plan to remove the symbol of the Confederate flag from state-issued license plates, where it is not universally displayed but features on a specific type of plate.
McAuliffe pointed out that although local legislation had attempted to remove the flag from certain state-issued plates, court rulings had forced the state department of motor vehicles to allow it.McAuliffe pointed out that although local legislation had attempted to remove the flag from certain state-issued plates, court rulings had forced the state department of motor vehicles to allow it.
Virginia passed legislation in 1999 requiring the state to issue specialty license plates for the Sons of Confederate Veterans, but with a section that attempted to ban the flag from being included. However, this was trumped by local court rulings that said the state must include the Confederate flag symbol in those license plates, backed up with local and a federal court rulings that said the state could not ban it.Virginia passed legislation in 1999 requiring the state to issue specialty license plates for the Sons of Confederate Veterans, but with a section that attempted to ban the flag from being included. However, this was trumped by local court rulings that said the state must include the Confederate flag symbol in those license plates, backed up with local and a federal court rulings that said the state could not ban it.
But with the supreme court decision last week that meant individual states can refuse to put the flag on state-issued license plates, McAuliffe said he intended to take advantage of that ruling in Virginia.But with the supreme court decision last week that meant individual states can refuse to put the flag on state-issued license plates, McAuliffe said he intended to take advantage of that ruling in Virginia.
McAuliffe said he is now taking steps for the local court rulings in Virginia to be reversed and the Confederate flag image on any state-issued license plates to be phased out.McAuliffe said he is now taking steps for the local court rulings in Virginia to be reversed and the Confederate flag image on any state-issued license plates to be phased out.