RICHMOND, Va. - Governor Terry McAuliffe vetoed a bill Thursday that would have not allowed local governments to remove or modify monuments or war memorials erected before 1998.
The governor said that he supports historic preservation efforts but that he does not support this override of local authority.
In a statement, Governor McAuliffe said, "There is a legitimate discussion going on in localities across the Commonwealth regarding whether to retain, remove, or alter certain symbols of the Confederacy. These discussions are often difficult and complicated. They are unique to each community’s specific history and the specific monument or memorial being discussed."
The Governor also directed Secretary of Natural Resources Molly Ward, the former Mayor of Hampton, to form a work group with the Department of Historic Resources to study best practices about how to balance the preservation of history with the concerns of modern-day Virginians.
Related:
House bill protecting war monuments heads to VA Governor’s desk
Federal lawsuit filed to stop removal of Confederate monuments in New Orleans
Portsmouth city council discusses Confederate monument at closed meeting
Suffolk man’s passion for confederate flag could get him in trouble with police
Group that waved Confederate flags while driving past birthday party indicted on terror charges
Federal judge rules Virginia can ban the Confederate battle flag from license plates
