Petition to rename Lynchburg gains traction in light of Black Lives Matter movement

WSET ^ | 04/11/2020 | Caroline Kealy

[sevinufnine]

Over 1,000 people have signed a petition to rename the City of Lynchburg named after founder John Lynch. Lynch was a Quaker described as progressive for his time in the 1780s, according to Chief Public History Officer Ted Delaney. "He believed in emancipating slaves," Delaney said. "He had slaves but he freed all of his. He supported recolonization, which is sending slaves back to Africa. He did not believe in perpetuating the institution of slavery in this country."

Delaney explains that the term lynching is actually named after Lynch's brother, Charles Lynch. He would tie British soldiers to a tree and beat them until they cried "Liberty!” which would stop the beating since that meant they agreed with the revolution. From there it evolved into what we know today -- the racist killings of African Americans.

The petition was started by Daisy Howard, who grew up in Lynchburg. Howard believes that it is possible to honor the city's founder without using his last name. "If statues can come down, then problematic names of cities can also change," Howard said. "At the end of the day, it comes down to defending the word Lynch, which I don't think you can defend."

Howard says that her petition comes in light of the Black Lives Matter movement.

[sevinufnine]

BUT! Just learning a lady named Cece Thomas created another petition to stop the original petition. So far, it has almost 4,000 signatures. Cece said,The petition to city council begins with, “I am starting this petition to stop Daisy Howard from trying to have my hometown’s name changed. She does not understand the history of our town, she just doesn’t like the name.”

[sevinufnine]

[sevinufnine]

This is so out of control it’s beyond stupid. It’s paranoid schizophrenia!

[sevinufnine]

This is Lynchburg, VA BTW...

[BBQToadRibs]

[TexasFreeper2009]

If Democrats want to tear down statues of Democrats in Democrat run cities and want to also rename them and or burn them down... why do I care? heck rename your hell holes to RIOTSVILLE for all I care!

[Mopp4]

Just when you thought this shit couldn’t possibly get any stupider.......massive face palm........

[Buckeye McFrog]

Fine, Libs. How about “Falwellville”?

[sevinufnine]

Is that for real?

[DIRTYSECRET]

Isn’t this the town that lost all their young men at Normandy?

[sevinufnine]

It is so frustrating. They don’t even understand or know their own history. Kind of reminds me of the post going around Facebook of this black lady saying it is fine for “her people” to be burning down the cities “they built”. HUH? How is that possible on the west coast, or anywhere for that matter?

[DoodleDawg]

"At the end of the day, it comes down to defending the word Lynch, which I don't think you can defend."

Only if you're an idiot.

[sevinufnine]

I fear it will get a hell of a lot worse.

[BBQToadRibs]

Yep. Originally it was lemonade with a hefty dose of Jack Daniels. I think the commercial one is just the standard malt beverage.

[jughandle]

Is something going to be done about asphalt roads and driveways, they’re black you know and we drive and walk all over them.

[a fool in paradise]

When will they petition a change of the name of the City of Angels (Los Angeles)?

[central_va]

You better care, Washington and Jefferson are next. Then they will at point move onto Texas, the Alamo was racist whites defy Hispanic rule. That Travis guy was also a racist.

[sevinufnine]

You mean this guy?

[sevinufnine]

“Isn’t this the town that lost all their young men at Normandy?” Sadly, yes.

[Sirius Lee]

At this point, if cops just start going around randomly shooting BLM and antifa in the heads I no longer care.

So disgusted with what's going on that Few Lives Matter to me anymore. Done with this crap.