You may recall that our Fredericksburg I-95
Memorial Battle Flag has been in the news quite a bit over the last few
months.
In September, the Stafford County Attorney announced that there was
absolutely nothing that Stafford County could do to force the removal of
the flag that flies 24/7 in what was recently described as the busiest
corridor of I-95, even if they wanted to, because it flies on private
property and is protected by the First Amendment.
https://wtop.com/stafford-county/2017/09/attorney-stafford-co-s-hands-tied-confederate-flag-95/
This announcement was made after agitators attended several County Board
of Supervisors meetings, demanding the county take action to have the
flag removed. Supervisors have repeatedly informed the agitators that
the flag was erected with all necessary permits and following all
regulations.
In response, a Fredericksburg area couple filed a complaint, claiming
that the flag pole and flag violated zoning ordinances and attempted to
convince county officials that the flag was actually a sign,
"advertising" for the Va Flaggers.
http://www.fredericksburg.com/news/local/stafford/complaint-confederate-flag-over-i--in-stafford-an-illegal/article_bdf55b7d-c177-5694-90b5-f2bb0eaa7472.html
In early December, after a two month long investigation, county
officials once again announced that the flag site did not violate any
ordinances and was free to fly on private property.
http://www.fredericksburg.com/news/local/stafford/confederate-flag-near-i--in-stafford-free-to-fly/article_6333bdcd-d4fb-5a50-8311-241f2d96061f.html
In the meantime, much press attention was given to a woman who filed a
permit to raise a large "Black Lives Matter" flag in her back yard in
Stafford. Her antics made national news and her "go fund me" page
quickly raised $8,500 of the $25,000 she claimed to need to raise the
flag.
This morning, we received news that Susan Kosior, the woman behind the
Black Lives Matter flag raising scheme, has officially thrown in the
towel. Apparently, her fund raising efforts fell flat and the $8,500
she raised was not enough for a pole, much less the installation and
flag cost.
After facing criticism from neighbors and citizens, Ms. Kosior has
announced she is giving up the project entirely and moving back to New
York.
http://www.fredericksburg.com/news/local/stafford/then-now-the-woman-behind-the-black-lives-matter-flag/article_0547dfce-eeae-5cb1-bc20-69b0b337bdba.html
We have no idea what will become of the money collected for the flag
that will never be raised, but we certainly wish we could personally
send a thank you note to every donor for (apparently) financing her move
back to New York...and OUT OF DIXIE.
If this isn't #winning, we don't know what is. ;)
In the meantime, all of the press attention apparently stirred up and
emboldened local troublemakers, who managed to vandalize the site in
early October. The pole was spray painted and the criminals attempted
to cut the cable and steal the flag. They failed.
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