Pro Harry Byrd Highway Fliers Distributed In Loudoun: LCSO

LOUDOUN COUNTY, VA — Propaganda fliers that "spoke against the potential renaming of Harry Byrd Highway" were found in area driveways Sunday morning, July 21, at two locations in the county, according to the Loudoun County Sheriff's Office. The distributed fliers, which police deemed "a suspicious event," were found in the 1800 block of North Brunswick Street in Sterling and the 35000 block of Harry Byrd Highway in Round Hill.

Asked what specifically was written in the fliers, LCSO spokesman Colin Whittington said via email they "spoke against the proposed changing of the name of "Harry Byrd Highway to "Freedom Highway," and expressed the desire to preserve history."

Byrd, a former Virginia governor and U.S. senator, was opposed to racial desegregation. Michelle Thomas, president of the Loudoun chapter of the NAACP, has supported efforts to change the highway's name (also Route 7) to Freedom Highway. Last May, she told WJLA: "We should not be celebrating an oppressive history."

Similarly, Jefferson Davis Highway — named for the former president of the Confederacy — (Route 1) has been renamed in various jurisdictions, including to Richmond Highway in Alexandria.

Asked who distributed the fliers in Loudoun County, Whittington said that "to not give any notoriety to the group, we are not releasing the name of the group behind the dissemination of the fliers," adding they contained no racial messaging.

Attorney General Mark Herring has the Commonwealth Transportation Board, along with the General Assembly, can change a name if properly approved and supported by a community, which would include the Loudoun County Board of Supervisors.