Danville Police on Thursday night removed the Third National flag of the Confederate States of America from the grounds of the Sutherlin Mansion following City Council’s adoption of a flag ordinance.
Police Chief Philip Broadfoot said his department was given the responsibility by City Manager Joe King to remove the flag at a time of the department’s choosing.
“Due to the controversy surrounding the flag issue, it was our belief that prompt removal of the flag was in the interest of all concerned citizens,” Broadfoot said.
The flag was removed immediately following the vote by City Council.
Broadfoot said officers removed the flag from the pole, carefully folded it and placed into a private parcel post mailer. The mailer was shipped to the Heritage Preservation Association, which owns the flag.
City Council adopted the ordinance Thursday night by a vote of 7-2. The ordinance permits only the U.S. national flag, Virginia state flag, city flag of Danville, and the POW/MIA flag to be flown on flagpoles owned by the City. No other flags are permitted to be flown on flagpoles owned by the city other than these four.
The ordinance does not prohibit individuals from carrying other flags in public or displaying other flags on private property.