McDonnell apologizes, promises to acknowledge slavery in Confederacy proclamation.
This afternoon,
Windows 7 Activation, Gov. Bob McDonnell (R-VA) apologized for omitting slavery from his proclamation on Confederate Heritage Month. Yesterday, he defended his unique selection, stating that he focused around the “aspects” of the Civil War that were “most significant for Virginia.” Since that time, he has faced criticism from progressives, civil rights groups, conservatives, and even people and organizations that originally supported his campaign. From his apology statement:
The proclamation issued by this Office designating April as Confederate Historical past Month contained a major omission. The failure to include any reference to slavery was a mistake, and for that I apologize to any fellow Virginian who has been offended or disappointed. The abomination of slavery divided our nation, deprived people of their God-given inalienable rights, and led to the Civil War. Slavery was an evil,
Office 2010 Key, vicious and inhumane practice which degraded human beings to property, and it has left a stain within the soul of this state and nation. In 2007,
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McDonnell has also promised to add language denouncing slavery to his proclamation:
WHEREAS,
Microsoft Office 2007 Key, it is important for all Virginians to understand that the institution of slavery led to this war and was an evil and inhumane practice that deprived people of their God-given inalienable rights and all Virginians are thankful for its permanent eradication from our borders,
Office 2010 Product Key, and the study of this time period should reflect upon and learn from this painful part of our background.
As ThinkProgress reported earlier today, former Republican governor George Allen, who started the practice of Confederate History Month proclamations for Virginia, also had to apologize for leaving out a reference to slavery in 1997.