Sons of Confederate Veterans Convention Opens in Virginia

For the 120th year in a row, the national Sons of Confederate Veterans are holding their annual convention in Richmond, Virginia — the former capital of the confederacy — beginning Wednesday, according to the Richmond Times-Dispatch.

However, this year’s convention will likely draw more attention than in years past.

The nine-day convention is expected to draw approximately 800 attendees, according to the Times-Dispatch, but that number does not account for the many protesters expected to rally outside the event in response to the shooting deaths of nine people at a historically black church in Charleston, S.C. These protests are only part of a wave of national backlash against Confederate symbols since those shootings took place earlier this summer.

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Local NBC affiliate WSLS said multiple Facebook groups have already begun sprouting with the purpose of rallying and organizing protesters in anticipation of this year’s convention. Many protesters are planning to rally outside of a reception scheduled for this evening at the Doubletree by Hilton off Midlothian Drive.

Spokespeople for the convention told WSLS they do not expect any trouble from protesters so long as they protest peacefully.

Membership in the Sons of Confederate Soldiers is restricted to males only, and they must be descendants of former Confederate army or navy soldiers who closed out the war or who died or were wounded in battle.

“The objects and purposes of the organization are ‘to encourage the preservation of history, perpetuate the hallowed memories of brave men, to assist in the observance of Memorial Day, to aid and support all members, widows and orphans, and to perpetuate the record of the services of every Southern Soldier,’” reads the group’s Facebook page.

The Sons of Confederate Veterans held its first national convention in July of 1896 and have held one every year since, including this year.

Image credit: Patch file photo