Virginia mayor demands swift removal of divisive symbols
Charlottesville Mayor Michael Signer called on the Virginia state legislature Friday to convene a special session to push for new laws that would give local governments power to decide the fates of their Confederate war memorials and suspend some gun laws after his city was besieged by violence during a white nationalist rally.
Signer, a Democrat, issued a statement outlining what he views are the next steps for the progressive college town now reeling from the fallout of the violence, attention and outrage that has made Charlottesville the center of a national debate about Confederate history and white supremacy.
“Last weekend changed not only Charlottesville, but America,” Signer wrote.