RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) — An annual convention here in Richmond is expected to get a great deal of attention. Thousands are in Richmond for a confederate heritage convention, but with the recent controversy surrounding the Confederate battle flag, protesters plan on making their voices heard as well.
They come from all over the country and members say they realize this year’s convention will be a focal point for controversy after the on-going nationwide debate about the Confederate battle flag.
Convention goers started out at the Doubletree Hotel in Midlothian Wednesday morning. They made their way to the Museum of the Confederacy later in the day.
Protests are expected throughout the five-day event. The convention organizers say they will have increased security at the hotel.
Some members of the Sons of Confederate Veterans say they hope this week they’ll be able to have a dialogue with others about their group and their flag.
Members of the Sons of Confederate Veterans say they’re about heritage — not hatred — and they want to get that point across this week.
“We have our annual meeting every year and with all the publicity that’s been broadcast over the Confederate flag it will probably increase the attendance,” explained Charles Baker, an SCV member from Birmingham, Alabama.
Charles Kelly Barrow is the Commander and Chief of the SCV, and he says in the next few days his organization has a great opportunity.
“What I think we’re going to do is we’re going to take these lemons and make lemonade out of it,” he said.
Barrow says critics of his organization are sadly mistaken if they want to take his group’s symbols and what they stand for with other groups that strike an emotional nerve.
“I know there are some people in our country that take our symbols I don’t how many times we condemn them repeatedly but you know this is America — everyone has the right for freedom of expression,” Barrow explained.
Frank Yates says he has at least 31 ancestors who fought for the Confederacy and he says his group does not promote hatred.
“I have never found as opinion or a statement or a person in the SCV that showed me any sign or what I think racist or white supremacist is,” Yates said.
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