Virginia Group Hoists Second Huge Confederate Flag Along Highway.
Motorists traveling a major Virginia highway now have a second supersized Confederate flag to catch their attention, even though the first banner drew protests and debate.
The Virginia Flaggers, a group that celebrates the heritage of the Confederacy, raised the 20- by 30-foot (6- by 9-meter) battle flag on Saturday alongside Interstate 95 near Fredericksburg, some 60 miles (96.6 kilometers) north of the state's capital of Richmond.
The group raised its first flag last year along the highway, immediately drawing complaints that it promoted racism and slavery, and leading 24,000 people to sign an online petition against its display.
"We have no problems with people who have different points of view, but we also want them to respect our views," said Barry Isenhour, a spokesman for the Flaggers.
The flag stirs strong emotions in Richmond, where African-Americans are the majority. The city, the former capital of the Confederacy, was the site of the nations second-largest slave market.
http://www.nytimes.com/reuters/2014/06/02/us/02reuters-usa-virginia-confederateflag.html?hp