City Of Fairfax: Council To Hear Recommendations On Confederate Iconography

Press release from the City of Fairfax :

09/08/2021 9:35 AM

The Connecting Fairfax City for All stakeholder advisory group will present recommendations to City Council during a public meeting at 7 p.m. on Sept. 9 at the Sherwood Community Center, located at 3740 Old Lee Highway in Fairfax.

Council will be taking no action at this meeting. The public is welcome to attend this in-person meeting, but there will not be an opportunity to speak. The meeting will not be televised and there will not be a virtual link. Copies of the advisory group’s report will be available at the meeting and online Sept. 10.

Last fall, City Council acknowledged the need for a broader community conversation around issues of racial and social equity, systemic racism, symbolism, and identity. Connecting Fairfax City for All was launched to examine the city’s Confederate-related street and place names, historical markers and monuments, including elements in the city seal. The nomenclature and iconography have been studied in the context of how these symbols reflect the council’s goals of inclusivity and building community. The goal of the initiative is to connect the present to a more equitable and inclusive future for all city residents, businesses, and visitors.

The 16-member advisory group is a diverse working group formed to make recommendations on action items and identify areas for further community discussion. The advisory group includes representation from Historic Fairfax, Inc., Mt. Calvary Baptist Church, Neighbors for Change, Mosby Woods Community Association, and someone from each of the city’s voting precincts.  The group participated with residents in thought-provoking conversations that connected current realities with the city’s historical past. The listening and learning sessions were facilitated by the George Mason University Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter School for Peace and Conflict Resolution.

The council will discuss the recommendations in the report during a work session on Tuesday, Sept. 14. This meeting will be televised on Channel 12 (Cox/Verizon and the city website). Comments to Council can be made during the public comments period of the meeting.

For more information about the Connecting Fairfax City for All initiative, visit Engage Fairfax. 

This press release was produced by the City of Fairfax. The views expressed here are the author’s own.