Removing Confederate Names In Fairfax County: Panel Discussion

RESTON, VA — Hunter Mill residents will have the opportunity to weigh-in on Fairfax County's review of Confederate street names, monuments and public places, during an upcoming panel discussion and town hall.

Supervisor Walter Alcorn is hosting the discussion virtually on Tuesday, April 20, at 7 p.m., using the Webex platform.

“I am looking forward to a thoughtful discussion that ensures that we move forward in a way that makes all residents in every community in our county feel welcome and respected,” Alcorn said, in a release. “Our area has both a rich and complicated history before, during, and after the Civil War, and our views of that history are often shaped by our personal histories and identities. It is important for Hunter Mill residents to have opportunities to hear from and learn from each other as Fairfax County explores changing how we identify Confederate-named public streets and other places.”

Acting on a June 2020 directive from the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors, the Fairfax County History Commission surveyed approximately 26,500 assets across the county. The commission submitted its report in December 2020, which identifies approximately 157 county assets, including parks, with Confederate-associated names. Federal properties, public schools, places of worship, and cemeteries are excluded from the report.

The April 20 discussion will focus on the inventory and report. Those wishing to take part in the meeting can use this link. Those who would prefer to listen to meeting by telephone, may call 1-844-621-3956 and use access code: 129 974 5772. This is also the number to use if accessing TTY 711. The meeting will also be streamed on YouTube Live.

While the history commission was in the process of reviewing the county's properties last year, the removal of Confederate representations around the area was already underway:

• On Friday, the Alexandria City High School approved the renaming of two schools on Friday, one of which was named for a former pro-segregation superintendent and the other a member of the Confederate Army.
• The Board of Supervisors voted in September to remove a monument dedicated to a Confederate officer from the old Fairfax County Courthouse grounds.
• The City of Fairfax removed other monuments and launched a community dialogue to examine the representation of the Confederacy in the city.
• The City of Fairfax School Board renamed a middle school that was named for the "poet of the Confederacy."
• In February, the Fairfax County School Board voted to rename an elementary school whose name was associated with a Confederate officer.

Also see ...

Fairfax Begins Process To Rename Confederate Properties

Protesters Call For Removal Of Confederate Monument In Fairfax