The Rockbridge Community Anit-Racism Education (CARE) Initiative has announced that they will be hosting a Diversity Parade on January 14, taking the place of  the Sons of Confederate Veterans’(SCV) longstanding flag rally on the same day.  

“Local merchants have come forward wanting to support both the organization and the parade,” said CARE member Rallie Snowden in an email,  “especially considering that in the past, during the weekend leading up to MLK weekend, the flaggers have boycotted Lexington businesses in protest of the flag ordinance that was passed some time back.”

Some controversy has surrounded the parade change, though.  

“Of course, there has been backlash, too, but that is generally coming from people outside of the community,” said Snowden.  

Much of this backlash comes from members of SCV.  

“We support a parade honoring Martin Luther King – in fact, we would probably assist [CARE]  in it if they had asked us,” said SCV executive director Michael Landree. “But their parade on the historical day we’ve held our parade is nothing more than an attempt to harass us and they know it, the City Council knows it, and so does everyone else.”

Snowden joined CARE in an attempt to help Lexington appreciate its diversity.  

“I learned about [CARE] at the anti-racism rally held in March of this year following the distribution of KKK materials around Lexington,” said Snowden.  

Snowden is not alone in her beliefs.  

According to CARErockbridge.org, “we want to point out that this is not a last-minute venture or spur-of-the-moment decision to hold the parade. Rather, the choice comes as the result of years of thoughtful consideration as Lexington locals.” 

SCV has planned a new event to make up for the changed date of the parade.  

“After CARE received a parade permit on our holiday, the Virginia Flaggers received a permit for a parade on Martin Luther King’s actual holiday (Monday),” said Landree. “Then we asked CARE to switch their parade date (our holiday for Generals Lee and Jackson) with ours; they declined.”

CARE hosted a parade on Saturday, January 14, attended by over 600 people. Marchers made their way through the streets of Lexington amid a flurry of Confederate Flags waved by members of SCV. The SCV flag rally also occurred on the morning of Saturday, January 14, on Route 60 West. Estimates place the attendance of the flag ceremony at 250 people.