Virginia county to vote on reinstating Confederate leaders' names at schools

A school board in Virginia is set to vote on restoring the name of Confederate leaders to two county schools, following their removal in the aftermath of the racial protests catalyzed by the death of George Floyd.

Concretely, the board of Shenandoah County will decide whether to reverse the decision that changed the names of the schools, linked to Stonewall Jackson, Robert E. Lee and Turner Ashby, pro-slavery Confederate leaders during the Civil War.

The names were changed in 2020, with Stonewall Jackson High School becoming Mountain View High School and Ashby-Lee Elementary School turning into Honey Run Elementary School.

Back then, the board changed the name in a 5-1 vote, saying the decision aimed at "condemning racism and affirming the division's commitment to an inclusive school environment for all."

The decision was part of a broader trend that saw many authorities take down public Confederate symbols across the country. At least 160 of them were impacted, according to a tally from the Southern Poverty Law Center.

"These racist symbols only serve to uphold revisionist history and the belief that white supremacy remains morally acceptable," SPLC chief of staff Lecia Brooks said in a statement at the time. "This is why we believe that all symbols of white supremacy should be removed from public spaces."

Now, NBC News reported that conservative group Coalition for Better Schools asked officials to change back the names, saying that "revisiting this decision is essential to honor our community's heritage and respect the wishes of the majority."

The board, which serves over 5,600 students, had already voted on a similar motion in 2022, but it didn't pass after a tie.