Civil War Weekend Cancelled In Manassas

MANASSAS, VA — Just a week before it was scheduled to be held, Civil War Weekend has been scrubbed by the city of Manassas, a spokesman said Friday in a statement, citing "recent events (that) have ignited passions in this country surrounding the Civil War and the symbols representing it." It didn't specifically mention last weekend's violence in Charlottesville, rather referring to similar incidents around the country.

"The City of Manassas is saddened by these events and abhors the violence happening around the country," the statement said, "(and) does not with to further exacerbate the situation."

Last weekend at a rally in Charlottesville to protest the removal of a Robert E. Lee statue, protesters — many carrying Confederate flags along with KKK flags and Nazi flags — clashed violently with counter-protesters. Heather Heyer, 32, was killed after a man drove his car through a crowd. Two State Police troopers monitoring the situation from the air died when their helicopter crashed.

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Bottom-line reason for canceling it, which was scheduled for Aug. 25-27: ". . .For the safety of our residents, visitors and re-enactors."

Yet on its face, Civil War Weekend is a pretty tame affair. Grown men get to play dress-up and act like soldiers. There are exhibitions such as quilt-making. There are concerts. But you wouldn't know that if you looked it up city website, because the page has been deleted. Ditto the entry for Civil War Week on the Virginia is For Lovers tourism website.

But here's a 2014 Facebook description about Civil War Week by the city:

"Step back in time in Historic Downtown Manassas and experience Civil War events that transformed a sleepy railroad junction into a thriving camp and then a devastated landscape. Learn about the lives of soldiers and civilians as they faced hardship beyond measure. Civil War at the Junction, a living history commemoration for serious Civil War buffs and families alike, will feature military and medical demonstrations, African-American interpretation, music, food, a bourbon tasting, and a re-enactment remembering General Thomas “Stonewall” Jackson’s 1862 raid on the railroad junction."

Image via Pixabay