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April 9, 2010

Virginia Gov. Apologizes for Excluding Slavery from Confederate History Month Proclamation
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And Virginia Governor Robert Mc Donnell has apologized for excluding
slavery from a proclamation designating April as Confederate History
Month. The initial proclamation called on Virginia residents to
“understand the sacrifices of the Confederate leaders, soldiers and
citizens during the period of the Civil War.” Mc Donnell initially said
he had excluded slavery because he wanted to focus on issues
“significant” to Virginia. Mc Donnell called the move “a major omission”
and says he’s amended the document to call slavery “an evil and inhumane
practice.” Critics want Mc Donnell to revoke the proclamation entirely,
saying it celebrates Virginia’s racist past.



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