BREAKING NEWS! Prince Edward County, Virginia officials served with federal lawsuit over illegal and unconstitutional harassment of landowner.
Prince Edward County has been trying for over four years to force the removal of the High Bridge Memorial Battle Flag. While their efforts have been unsuccessful, they have wasted hundreds of thousands of taxpayer dollars and county resources in the failed attempts. As a result of the ongoing persecution, the landowner has been forced to spend precious resources of time and money, and faced attacks on her character and her business. It is clear from statements from multiple county officials that the type of flag being flown is why the county is fighting so hard to have it removed.
On Monday, June 1, 2026, at 10:00 AM, the county is taking the landowner back to court to try and get an order to have the flag removed. They have threatened her with hefty fines and jail time if she refuses to comply.
Enough is enough. Earlier This week, a federal civil rights lawsuit
was filed in Richmond against Prince Edward County. Today, Prince
Edward County officials, including the Board of Supervisors and several zoning
and planning officials were SERVED. The lawsuit accuses Prince Edward
County of violating the landowners’ constitutional right to free
speech. You can read the filing in its entirety here: https://drive.google.com/file/
This litigation will not be inexpensive, but we are more determined than ever to take this as far as necessary to ensure that no private citizen ever has to endure what we have in order to defend their right to free speech on their own private property.
A brief history of the flag fight:
Just a few days after the flag was raised and dedicated in April of 2022, the Prince Edward County Planning Commission and Board of Supervisors began their campaign of harassment and massive spending in an attempt to appease a handful of complainers, and force the removal of the memorial. Although Virginia law protects citizens from this type of action 60 days after a building permit is issued, the landowner was threatened with imprisonment and fines if the flag was not removed, a full 4 months after the permit was issued and final inspection approved. The Prince Edward County Board of Zoning appeals sided with us, citing the above-mentioned law and ruled against the county. The Board of Supervisors then voted to APPEAL the decision of their own Board of Zoning Appeals and the case was heard in Circuit Court. Once again, the Circuit Court ruled that the memorial was protected by law and denied the County's appeal.
After two years of legal proceedings and hundreds of thousands of dollars of taxpayer dollars wasted on appeals, the Virginia Court of Appeals ruled AGAINST Prince Edward County and upheld previous rulings that the Rt. 460 High Bridge Memorial Battle Flag in Farmville was properly and legally installed and will remain. This decision was relevant to the size and location of the 80’ pole. Prince Edward County FINALLY decided against any further appeal in this matter and the flagpole WILL REMAIN.
In the meantime, we still have a fight on our hands, as the county decided to harass the landowner regarding the SIZE OF THE FLAG. This case, which includes threats of fines and imprisonment, is now pending before the Prince Edward County Circuit Court.
After judges of the circuit court recused themselves from hearing the case, the Virginia Supreme Court appointed retired circuit court judge J. Leyburn Mosby to hear the case. Before retirement Judge Mosby sat primarily in the Lynchburg area. Judge Mosby previously heard a related case against Ms. Bowman over the height of the flagpole on which she displays her flag. Ms. Bowman prevailed in that case.
Recently, the attorney representing Prince Edward County withdrew from its representation. A new attorney is now representing the County, and the Court and a trial date of Monday, June 1st has just been scheduled.
We have no plans to lower the flag or raise a smaller one. The flag we raised is appropriate to the size of the pole, and new laws restricting flags were enacted AFTER the flag was raised.
**To assist with legal fees:
Make checks payable to: The Virginia Flaggers (Note High Bridge Legal Fund) and mail to PO Box 157 Rice, VA 23966
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