BREAKING! Virginia Governor Terminates Tax Exemption for Southern Historical Societies

 

BREAKING NEWS!!!! Virginia Governor Abigail Spanberger’s Hateful Assault on American Heritage: Tax Exemptions Stripped from Confederate Organizations!  

In a stunning act of targeted bigotry, Virginia Governor Abigail Spanberger has signed into law HB 167, stripping tax exemptions from longstanding 501(c)(3) nonprofit heritage organizations tied to Southern history. 

The bill, approved by the Democratic-controlled legislature down straight party lines and signed on April 14, 2026, eliminates property tax breaks and tax exemptions specifically for groups that have ties to Confederate history, and have maintained historic sites and supported community causes for generations. 

Among those now forced to pay taxes on their real estate and property transfers are the Virginia Division of the United Daughters of the Confederacy, the General Organization of the United Daughters of the Confederacy, the Confederate Memorial Literary Society, the Stonewall Jackson Memorial Incorporated, the Virginia Division of the Sons of Confederate Veterans, and the J.E.B. Stuart Birthplace Preservation Trust.

Spanberger, a New Jersey native, shows zero hesitation in going after these distinctly American heritage groups—organizations run by descendants of veterans who have done immense good through historic preservation, education, veteran support, and charitable work. 

 

The United Daughters of the Confederacy, for example, has long partnered with food banks, homeless shelters, and civic initiatives while safeguarding monuments and records that honor the sacrifices of Southern families. The Sons of Confederate Veterans and related trusts maintain battlefields, birthplaces, and memorials that teach history rather than erase it. 

Yet this governor has no apparent problem with far-left discriminatory programs, organizations aiding open borders, or activist groups pushing radical agendas. She targets only these American heritage nonprofits while leaving untouched any number of foreign-linked or leftist causes. This is not neutral governance—it is selective persecution.

Let there be no doubt: this woman’s venomous attack reeks of pure ideological hate. Spanberger has revealed herself as an enemy from within, weaponizing state power to punish organizations whose only “crime” is remembering the valor and principles of their ancestors. 

These groups are not hate organizations; they are stewards of history that millions of Virginians and Southerners hold dear. By contrast, she would never dream of revoking exemptions from groups celebrating far-left heritage, foreign interests, or progressive, godless activism. 

Her move exposes the double standard at the heart of today’s leftist agenda: American traditions are fair game for destruction, while everything else is protected.

This despicable decision must serve as a rallying cry and a warning for all time. Governor Spanberger has shown exactly how low unchecked leftists will go when they hold power—erasing heritage one tax bill at a time. 

Every patriot must now stand up: support the Sons of Confederate Veterans, the United Daughters of the Confederacy, and the other targeted groups with donations, membership, and volunteer work. 

Band together, get involved, and fight back against this cultural vandalism. Do not let this New Jersey transplant and her allies destroy what generations of Americans built. 

Spanberger’s hateful legacy should stand forever as Exhibit A of the great evil we face—and the resolve required to overcome it. The time to defend our heritage is now. 

Bill to Remove Last Confederate Monuments Standing in Richmond Unexpectedly Dies in Budget Committee

 

In an unexpected development, a bill in the Virginia Senate to get rid of the last remaining Confederate statues in Richmond was killed by a House committee, but it is unlikely that democrats will let up in their all out assault on Virginia's history and heritage. 

A statue honoring Confederate General Stonewall Jackson stands in the most prominent spot in all of Capitol Square. That statue, along with two others honoring noble Virginians who contributed to the defense of Virginia during the War for Southern Independence, was about to be removed because of a bill that passed the Senate that was included in the Senate budget. Unexpectedly, a House committee killed the bill last week at the last minute as budget negotiations between the House and Senate broke down. Former Senator Adam Ebbin of Alexandria introduced the bill to ditch the statues, and he says he's hopeful the effort will be resurrected during the budget special session next month.

 "I would have preferred the bill passed just to make it explicit, but I'm confident that it’ll be in the final budget agreement," Ebbin says. "And I'm very hopeful that that will prevail."

Unfortunately, legislation to strip several of of Virginia's honorable historical societies of their property tax exemption and to discontinue license plates honoring Robert E. Lee and the Sons of Confederate Veterans did pass. The license plate measure was introduced by Delegate Dan Helmer, a Democrat from Fairfax County.

"Virginia needs to end itself being in the business of celebrating traitors who killed American soldiers to defend slavery," says Helmer. "That's not who we need to be as a country, and we're going to finish the job of making sure that America is about celebrating all Americans."  Both measures passed along strict party lines with ALL democrats voting for the bills, and ALL Republicans voting against them. 

Governor Youngkin vetoed similar legislation in 2024 and 2025, rightfully citing the "inappropriate precedent" of targeting organizations out of hate and spite.  Spanberger has until April 13th to make a decision about the Confederate license plates and tax exemption bills, but is expected to abide by the wishes of the handful demanding these changes, just as Democrats in the legislature did, and despite the fact that polls have repeatedly found that the majority of Virginians are AGAINST such measures. 

Lawmakers are expected to return to Richmond to strike a deal on the budget April 23rd.  
 

 

Contact Governor Spanberger and ask her to stop the nonsense and VETO HB167 and HB1344.

Online contact portal here: https://www.governor.virginia.gov/contact/

Phone: 804-786-2211

Email: abigail.spanberger@governor.virginia.gov

Mail:

Governor of Virginia

Abigail Spanberger

P.O Box 1475

Richmond, VA 23218
 

Bill details here: https://lis.virginia.gov/bill-details/20261/HB167 and  https://lis.virginia.gov/bill-details/20261/HB1344  

*Graphic courtesy of Judy Smith Photography

Remembering the Life of Southern Heritage Activist HK Edgerton

 

OBITUARY
Harold Kenneth “HK” Edgerton
February 18, 1948 – January 18, 2026


Harold Kenneth Edgerton “HK,” 77, went to be with his Lord and Savior and his family and Southern heroes and family on Sunday, January 18, 2026, at the Asheville Veterans Administration Medical Center in Asheville, NC.

He was born in Asheville, NC on February 18, 1948, to Roland Roger Edgerton and Anna B. Edgerton.

Mr. Edgerton is survived by his brothers, Rashad Hasan of Stone Mountain, Georgie, Terry Lee Edgerton and sister Obra Elaine Hall and “Favorite Niece” Danielle Hall, Niece Shykita Hill, Nephews Corey Edgerton and Darius Edgerton, and a host of Great Nieces and Nephews of Asheville, North Carolina.

Mr. Edgerton graduated Asheville High School in 1967 and served in the U.S. Army during Vietnam as Signal Corp Instructor at Fort Monmouth, NJ 1969-1972.

He graduated from the University of Minnesota in 1976 with a B.S. While in college, he was Chairman of the Board of the United Way Agency that was responsible for running the Sabathani Community Center in south Minneapolis. He founded the University of Minnesota Black Student Center and served on the Student Regent Board of Directors.

He served as an intern for the Green Giant Company, Customer Service Engineer for International Business Machines (IBM), and later he and his brother Terry Lee owned and operated Edgerton and Edgerton Office Products in Fullerton, California from 1981-1989. He later consulted with APAC, a Fortune 500 company.

He returned to Asheville to serve his hometown in various roles after his retirement including serving as Chairman of the Program Planning and Implementation Committee for the Asheville-Buncombe County Drug Commission, first as Vice President and later as President of the Asheville Branch of the NAACP and conducted a bid for Mayor of the City of Asheville. He received the Citizen of the Year Award.

He was a supporter and leader of youth sports and education, including being a volunteer and founder of the Boys and Girls Golf Team at Shiloh Community Center in Asheville and volunteer coach at Oakley Middle School for girl’s and boys’ basketball. He was a teacher’s aide at Ira B. Jones Elementary School.

He was best known for his Southern civil rights activism. He saw the people of the South being discriminated against and he fought vigorously to support them. He frequently appeared in the news and was featured in an episode of Penn and Teller. He gained international recognition during his Historical March Across Dixie which began in Asheville in 2002 at the now-removed Asheville, NC Vance Monument, and culminated January 26, 2003 in Austin, TX. The March brought attention to the decision by then Governor George W. Bush to remove historic plaques from the Texas Supreme Court Building by marching donned in the uniform of a Confederate Soldier carrying the Confederate Battle Flag.

He was a plaintiff in several lawsuits including against the U.S. Army to prevent the removal of the Reconciliation Memorial at Arlington National Cemetery. He authored an Open Letter and Report on his activities for two decades and was a frequent public speaker on Southern History and served as an expert witness in two lawsuits.

He was widely acclaimed for his efforts and received the Key to the City of Carthage, Texas and the Key to the City of Toccoa, Georgia, the Horace L. Hunley Award from the Sons of Confederate Veterans, the Gen. Robert E. Lee Medal from The Virginia Division, SCV, the Jefferson Davis Medal from the Texas Division, UDC, SC Division SCV, Lifetime Achievement Award, North Carolina Order of Confederate Rose, John F. Harris Award, Mississippi Division, Sons of Confederate Veterans and others.

He was a member of numerous organizations including Chairman Board of Advisors Emeritus Southern Legal Resource Center, Save Southern Heritage Florida, Founder, Veterans Defending Arlington, Honorary Scots of Austin, Honorary Life Member North Carolina, Tennessee, and Georgia Orders of the Confederate Rose, Honorary Life Member Jackson Rangers Camp 1917 Sons of Confederate Veterans, Associate Member Abner Baker Chapter 2614 United Daughters of the Confederacy, Honorary Member of Augusta Jane Evans Wilson, Chapter 2640 UDC, and the Judah P. Benjamin Camp 2210, SCV, Honorary Life Member, Longstreet Zollicoffer Camp 87 Sons of Confederate Veterans, Honorary Member Simonton-Wilcox Camp 257 Sons of Confederate Veterans, Honorary Life Member, Zebulon Baird Vance Camp 15, Sons of Confederate Veterans, Honorary Member Maria Baker Lemmon, TN OCR #25, Honorary Life Member, Forest Orphans Camp 1744, Sons of Confederate Veterans Honorary, Camp Commander, Granbury, Texas Brigade Camp 1479 Sons of Confederate Veterans, and Honorary Life Member Bradford Rose Camp 1638 Sons of Confederate Veterans.

He passed away peacefully in his sleep after a prolonged illness arising from the COVID vaccine.

Final arrangements will be announced in the future and planning is underway. For more information visit: https://forms.gle/XE3627EHgc2xZNF76