Good day. My ancestors go back to 1652 In Surry County Virginia. I love my Virginia history. I am also a former history teacher. My General Lee license plate honors a person who was relevant in Virginia history. I also had Revolutionary ancestors that thought from the state of North Carolina. That is why I did not want to get the "Patriot" license plate. No longer issuing the General Lee license plate or recalling it to me is a form of discrimination. The plate is being recalled because it is related to anything Confederate. Confederate history is and will always be a part of Virginia history. You are discriminating against Virginia's rich and glorious history if you recall this plate. Shame on you for even considering this issue. The plate has a wonderful picture of General Lee with his horse Traveller in the background. No Confederate Battle Flag is on this license tag. When people see my vehicle they don't even know what the tag is. Don't you have better things to do in the general assembly than to consider this ridiculous bill. I am sad that we cannot login to the Zoom meeting. But I think you elites in the General Assembly had a hand in not allowing the public to speak on this matter. Have a nice day and may God have mercy on your souls.

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I urging you to vote NO on HB 812! This is just another stab at our heritage. I drive around Portsmouth, Norfolk, Chesapeake and Suffolk EVERYDAY with my R.E. Lee plate. NO ONE has ever approached me or made rude comments to me. Lee was a respectable man of Virginia and loved his state. As far as being a slave owner, slavery was of that time period. Many men were slave owners during that time. Doing away with a license plate, statues or museums isn't going to make that part of history go away or change. It is part of Virginia's history. History is there to learn from, all of it, not just the parts you choose. Just because a handful of people decide that something is offensive, doesn't mean it's ok to do away with it. Stop causing a divide in Virginians! Stop attacking anything and everything having to do with Virginias history!

please vote NO on HB 812. This act of hatred by radical lefties in un-Jesus behavior and good and decent citizens need to stand up and defend our civil liberties and not create second class citizens and single out groups and individuals for persecution because we disagree with their views and opinions and love of God and state and country. Kindest regards, Dr. Clay Hemingway

I truly can’t believe that it has gotten to this point in our Commonwealth. Why are we doing everything we can to erase all organizations, images, and semblance of this from history. Please vote NO on the proposed amendment to recall the license plates that reference the Confederacy, Jefferson Davis, or Robert E. Lee. To continue with this erasure is to continue to divide us; how can you choose to disenfranchise one group of people? Shouldn’t all of our preferences matter? Or just 1 group’s? WHEN and where does this erasure stop? Please vote NO on HB 812

Please do not support House Bill 812, which would eliminate and recall the Robert E. Lee and the Sons of Confederate Veteran license plates. This bill is an unnecessary attack on citizens’ free speech at a time when our Nation and Commonwealth are extremely divided. We have greater problems in Virginia, and I respectfully urge you to focus your legislative efforts on the real problems that face Virginians. House Bill 812 is hurtful and achieves nothing except division and antagonism. Please do the right thing and prevent this bill from leaving committee. Very respectfully, Brian J. Amen

I’m outraged that the VA House of Delegates would even consider a bill to remove the Robert E Lee commemorative license plate. This is gross government overreach into a non issue. The license plate honors a historic Virginia figure, nationally & internationally recognized for his moral character & military accomplishments. The license plate is no different from the Jamestown or Williamsburg plates honoring Virginia’s history. Stop wasting time on ridiculous bills that only incite anger where there was none. Virginia history is fascinating and precious. Leave it alone.

We live in Northern VA. My family - young sons, wife, etc. - have driven around with a Lee license plate for many, many years. My third cousin was the Nation Archives' archivist who discovered Lee's amnesty oath and helped posthumously restore Lee's citizenship. We never had any issues or complaints whatsoever from any fellow Virginians as we drove around town. Maybe we need more genuine crises/conflicts to divert politician's attention to things that really matter, because this bill is a complete waste of time and money. Welcome to Virginia! Birthplace of George Washington (slave holder), Robert E. Lee (slave holder) and all the other sinners who live here; that piece of history you will never alter. So be a wise and sensible human being, and learn to deal with it instead of ignoring or canceling just to win some sort of temporary earthly political praise. Yes, they're the Commonwealth's plates, but this proposal certainly doesn't feel like we live in a state that embraces free speech. "Madam, do not train up your children in the hostility to the government of the United States. Remember, we are one country now. Dismiss from your mind all sectional feelings, and bring them up to be Americans." - Robert E. Lee, President - Washington College

This bill intrudes on freedom of speech in that drivers/vehicle owners will not be able to freely choose a license plate that reflects their interests. The intention to rewrite history will not be successful--history happens whether or not everyone agrees with it. My ancestors all were in the Union Army; I am not a rabid confederate, but I do think people should be able to show their interests or hobbies.

I truly can’t believe that it has gotten to this point in our Commonwealth. Are we so scared of history that we have to do everything we can to erase all organizations, images, and semblance of this from history. It has been proven factually over the millennia, for those he fail to learn from history, they are destined to repeat it. With what is being done with actions like this, you are facilitating just that for the future of our Commonwealth. There are things that offend others in this state, so by doing this it will make it easier in the future for those that are offended to remove anything in the future that they deem offensive. Is this the pattern and standard you wish to perpetuate? Be careful for what you wish for as it may come true. It actually sad that we will go to foreign countries to fight for the people to stop this type of genocide in other cultures, yet here we are doing exactly what those oppressive, tyrannical, and terrorist regimes are doing. I took an oath to this country and to this state, and you did the same. Yet here you are attempting to subvert and failing to uphold that said oath. I implore you to think about each and every decision you are making in this era, as this is not your future but the ones your child and children’s children will be forced to contend with. Just think the things you see your children growing up and learning being deemed offensive in the future and those things being destroyed right in front of them, so then your grandchildren with never know the history, experience and joy you and your children had together enjoying them. How are you going to feel when they start removing all of the history of the founding fathers, don’t think it can’t happen, because there are groups and organizations currently working to do just that. Just think, all of the memories, memorials, building and the list continues being disassembled, moved or completely destroyed (bulldozed to the ground). Just think of the Commonwealth you learned of, know of and see around you being turned into a mall or office building. Your grandchildren will never know of them. I starts with one simple thing then snowballs into everything. Don’t think it can’t happen because it happening all around us everyday. Culture is ever changing and will change and evolve forever, but history is just that, it has already happened, even attempting to rewrite it doesn’t actually change the facts of what truly happened. The real facts will be revealed one day. Just as we find now, as more information becomes available, people find facts that actually occurred that draw into question what has been obscured from the truth. I beg you to not support this bill or any bill if the sort in the future. Just remember the implications of the so called small thing as it has broader implications by individuals with more deviant intentions. Thank you for your time.

It is important that all Virginians be given the opportunity to honor Robert E. Lee on its commemorative license plate. He is a great American admired by the vast majority of Americans as well as renown world leaders such as Winston Churchill, Dwight Eisenhower, Franklin Roosevelt, and Lord Garnet Wolseley. Consider what Lord Wolseoey said of Lee whom he met face to face: "I desire to make known to the reader not only the renowned soldier, whom I believe to have been the greatest of his age, but to give some insight into the character of one whom I have always considered the most perfect man I ever met."

Please vote NO on HB812. Enough with removing any reference to our Virginia history and patriots. Let this small emblem remain an option for Virginians that honor and learn from our past.

Please vote NO on HB812. Enough with removing any reference to our Virginia history and patriots. Let this small emblem remain an option for Virginians that honor and learn from our past.

General Robert E. Lee was one of the finest Virginians ever born. Please do not take away the right to display his likeness on license plates. It is discriminatory to single out the parts of history that are not of one's liking.

Honorable Delegates: Please vote NO to HB 812. It is a violation of freedom of speech and singles out a specific demographic based on their heritage and culture.

The idea of removing any license plate that merely references the confederacy seems eerily similar to censorship. Those who don't want to have a confederate license plate shouldn't get one. RE Lee and the confederacy is an essential part of Virginia history, and to attempt to erase it from public life is to forget the lessons learned from the terrible chapter of history that was the civil war. While many associate people like RE Lee with racism, we could associate his "brand" of racism with nearly any historically significant American. Abraham Lincoln himself said in a 1858 debate “I will say then that I am not, nor ever have been in favor of bringing about in any way the social and political equality of the white and black races.” Obviously we understand Lincoln is more than this sentence, and so is Lee. Lee and his family personally campaigned for an organization that helped send slaves back to Africa to live in freedom, and was a great man in a myriad of other ways. Lee was an American patriot, until America marched on his home state of Virginia. His loyalty was not to slavery, but to Virginia. Again, if someone doesn't want a Lee license plate, don't get one.

Vote Yes for these leaders and the choice of license plates should be for those who desire one. Don't take away the right. Vote Yes.

Please vote no on removing our Robert E Lee license plate. I am a direct descendant of Robert E Lee so this is an personal insult to my family. Please listen to all the people, not just the loud ones.

This is just another example of trying to change the history of Virginia. Protecting free speech and free expression isn't just protecting speech you agree with, it's protecting speech you disagree with. Be mindful that slavery existed in the U.S. for about 80 years before the Confederacy ever existed - are we going to abolish the display of the U.S. flag? The bill to abolish Confederate license plates should not be supported by anyone who believes in freedom of speech.

Hi Ms. King & other delegates, I ask that you do not vote against people's ability to acquire license plates that show Confederate symbols and names. Please read my statement below. Thank you! As someone who believes in the importance of personal freedom, individual choice, and free speech, I believe this bill undermines the ability of your constituents to practice their inherent right to personal expression of their rights. The purpose of freedom of speech is to make people uncomfortable. Without discomfort, there will never be safety for human freedom. Without discomfort, there will be no conversations that better the course of humanity. Although you may not agree with--or be comfortable with--the displaying of Confederate symbols and names, their existence is a necessary part of American culture. You cannot remove The Civil War from history because you do not like it. It is intellectually dishonest to use the American political system to attack human rights that were explicitly called out in the founding documents of this country. If we want our personal freedom to be protected, then you must at all costs protect every Virginians freedom of speech--this includes protecting speech that you do not like.

I would urge a no vote on HB812. Robert E Lee made the choice to defend his home state of Virginia from an invading army; like so many other Southern men they have been vilified by those who choose to judge them by todays standards. I wonder how future generations will judge those of today who choose to remove our history.

Please do not remove the ability to get a VA gentleman, Robert E. Lee, plate. This is silly.

Please vote no on HB812. Save Virginia history as well as It's American history.

Please let us keep our Robert E Lee license plates! Please!

I ask you all to put this misguided, anti-historical legislation where it belongs- in the trashcan. HB812 will serve no purpose other than to create division and resentment. More often than not, legislation introduced by Ms Mundon King serves only to further divide Virginians. It's obvious she has no interest in or regard for Virginia history, but harbors an irrational desire to rewrite it and discredit people who made a difference. I will remind her that General Lee's military tactics and character will still be studied and appreciated long after Virginians have forgotten her. Again, do what's right and please do not allow this misguided, hateful, punitive bill to come to a vote in the Legislature.

Please vote No on HB 812. The Robert E. Lee license plate should not be eliminated.

I do not support this bill. It is yet another attempt to erase the history of bravery, leadership, and honorable service by our fellow Virginians in the fight for independence of their beloved state. These men represented an ideal; that the individual states forming the nation known and The United States, could not be healthy unless everyone had a voice and was heard and when that voice was not heard or taken into account, they were ready to fight and die to reclaim their rights. How then can the modern day Commonwealth hope to thrive when we make laws that silence the voice of any one of us, or seeks to separate us from the the truth of our heritage and the path we walked to arrive at the successes of today? This will only serve to drive the mistrust deeper and further divide us in a time when we so desperately need the hearts and minds of all Virginians to be united in the common goal of a better tomorrow.

Please vote "NO" for for House Bill 812. General Lee fought the only truly defensive war in American history. He is a true Virginian and should be recognized as such.

I am writing to request that you DO NOT support the recall/removal of the Robert E. Lee... ("The Virginia Gentleman") license plates. Please consider the following comments made by President Dwight D. Eisenhower: "Respecting your August 1 inquiry calling attention to my often expressed admiration for General Robert E. Lee, I would say, first, that we need to understand that at the time of the War Between the States the issue of Secession had remained unresolved for more than 70 years. Men of probity, character, public standing and unquestioned loyalty, both North and South, had disagreed over this issue as a matter of principle from the day our Constitution was adopted." General Robert E. Lee was, in my estimation, one of the supremely gifted men produced by our Nation. He believed unswervingly in the Constitutional validity of his cause which until 1865 was still an arguable question in America; he was thoughtful yet demanding of his officers and men, forbearing with captured enemies but ingenious, unrelenting and personally courageous in battle, and never disheartened by a reverse or obstacle. Through all his many trials, he remained selfless almost to a fault and unfailing in his belief in God. Taken altogether, he was noble as a leader and as a man, and unsullied as I read the pages of our history. From deep conviction I simply say this: a nation of men of Lee’s caliber would be unconquerable in spirit and soul. Indeed, to the degree that present-day American youth will strive to emulate his rare qualities, including his devotion to this land as revealed in his painstaking efforts to help heal the nation’s wounds once the bitter struggle was over, we, in our own time of danger in a divided world, will be strengthened and our love of freedom sustained. Such are the reasons that I proudly display the picture of this great American on my office wall. Sincerely, Dwight D. Eisenhower"

I implore the committee to reconsider this bill to further eradicate and sanitize Virginia History . Thank you.

My name is Trey Capps and I’m writing to you in hopes that bill 812 does not pass. General Lee defended our home state because he believed that was the right thing to do and when the war was over he pursued in reconciliation. He was one of the most if not the most talented general in all of American history and most importantly he was a great Christian, Many thought that when he surrendered that the war was over but it is ever clear to me that this war on our heritage is still fighting on. This is Virginia and we not only have a right but a duty to honor our great leaders and ancestors.

Committee members, I believe the Robert E. Lee Commemorative License Plate should remain available. He exemplifies all of the characteristics that have made Virginia the guiding force to establish the greatest “Nation under God”. Reliance on God enabled his steadfast direction for economic and education restoration in the Commonwealth after the War Between the States. Blessings, Tom Goodrich

Please vote No to eliminate the Robert E Lee license plate. This plate was approved in 2007 and all of a sudden it’s become offensive? No- it’s just another attempt to erase history and sensible people who love Virginia are tired of it. No one is required to purchase this plate; it is a CHOICE! Leave the plate alone and allow Virginians to choose for themselves as they have done for the last 14 years!

Please vote no on bill hb812 . Please save Virginia’s history for all.

I am a native Virginian and a current Virginia resident. Continue to celebrate Virginia's history and American history. Vote no on HB 812.

I am writing to all delegates to vote NO to ban the Robert E Lee license plate. All speciality plates are designed and prepaid by organizations and are available to all Virginia citizens. They are not mandated by the state. It is an individuals choice to purchase one or not. For the General Assembly to eliminate a previously approved plate is discriminatory, a violation of free choice ,and another example of erasure of Virginia history. This is a Virginia license plate; Robert E Lee was a Virginian who was loyal to Virginia, and was instrumental in saving Washington College after the Civil War. Will you also remove Washington and Lee University’s plate? Vote NO on HB 812 Thank you

Dear Representative, I ask you to vote against HB 812 which would do away with the LEE or any other Confederate themed license plate. These plates celebrate Virginia history. Whether one thinks it is good or controversial, it is Virginia's history. Thank you, James Shirley Virginia Beach

Please do not pass this bill. Enough is enough. I and most of my friends are tired of "wokeness". There are far, FAR more important issues facing the citizens of this Commonwealth. Please stop wasting taxpayer time and money on "feel good" bills and focus on actually legislating.

I oppose Bill HB812. Do not ban the Robert E. Lee license plate. Confederate history is part of Virginia history and heritage. Why keep trying to erase our history?

Please vote no on the bill to remove General Robert E. Lee from the license plates. He was a 35 year veteran of the United States Army. If not for Robert E. Lee the university now known as Washington and Lee would not exist. He did all he could to reunite the country after the war. He was also an extremely religious man which this country needs to get back too.

When are our elected representatives going to stand up for common sense and quit allowing a few radicals to push them around... ? My license plate reflects my history and if anyone is allowed a personalized plate, it is also my right. It is ridiculous to try to re-write history. by removing any mention of the past. It's time our politicians acted like sensible adults and stood up against the ignorant people that hate anything that has made America the greatest country in this world..

House Transportation - Department of Motor Vehicles Committee, Please consider allowing the historical Confederate plates stay as they are. I have some friends that are students of history and they absolutely love them. The plates that they have are the Robert E Lee tags. Most that would agree that Robert E Lee was a fine Virginian. He is a hero to many Virginians. If anyone would take the time to learn about him they would comprehend why he is so reverend by Virginians. I would imagine that not many even own the special commemorative plates in Virginia. Just about any interest or hobby has a special plate. There are Jimmy Buffet plates, Pro-life plates, Pro-choice plates, etc. Please don't take away the plates from those that are interested in history and those honour the legacy of Robert E Lee by way of displaying the special commemorative plate. For the sake of history, much has been removed already. As far financial expenses are concerned, recalling these plates will be expensive for the State of Virginia. Is it really necessary when resources are needed elsewhere? How much will it cost our State to recall these? New plates would have to be created, mailings/postage, time invested by our State employees and then the expense of those handful of people in the state that will have to turn in the plates. They will have to take the time, take time from work, remove the plates, use their lunch breaks, bring them into town, wait in line and then re-install the new replacement plates. DMV plate changes will create unnecessary hardships on Virginians. If anything, allow the plates to expire and not re-issue any new ones. That wouldn't be fair to those that want to express the historical interests such as these commemorative tags as other people and organisations do. Unfortunately, there will be some that will not turn in these plates and the plates will "expire". This will essentially make these folks as criminals so to speak. I imagine that they would be punished in the same manner as those that drive without tags/expired tags on our Virginia highways. How about if the transportation committee create some legislation that will combat folks that drive on our highways with the "farm use" tag? We all know that most of these folks aren't involved in agriculture. I know that there are laws pertaining to this, but it doesn't seem to curtail these people from doing this anyway. I also see that people are abusing the "antique vehicle" tag as well. They are just tagging their vehicles just so they can avoid paying tag fees, inspection fees and avoiding having to pay insurance as is normally done for cars on our Virginia highways! They need to pay their fare share as we all do. Please make decisions that is fair to all Virginians and actually a make positive change

Vote no to this bill. All men are created equal.

As a Proud Virginian, I feel it is a sad time when we do not want to remember the great men of Virginia. True, Robert E Lee fought in the Confederacy but only after his native home was being attacked. I would like to think if your home and family were facing attack that you would be willing standup to protect it. Robert E. Lee graduated second in his class from West Point. He did not receive a single demerit during his four years at the academy. He first distinguished himself in battle during the Mexican-American War under General Winfield Scott in the battles of Veracruz, Churubusco and Chapultepec. Scott once declared that Lee was “the very best soldier that I ever saw in the field.” In August of 1865, soon after the end of the war, Lee was invited to serve as president of Washington College (now Washington and Lee University), where he and his family are buried. Mr. Lee was also a Christian man. There are many license plates that I do not like to see but I simply just don't look at them. The same should be said about individuals that do not like the Robert E. Lee license. Simply don't look at them. The state would be losing money if individuals could not purchase this license. Please DO NOT pass this bill to recall and stop issuing the Robert E. Lee commemorative license plate. Thank you for your time, Regards, D. Barbour

I am asking that you vote"NO" for House Bill 812.

Please do not pass or support HB812. To single out this one single group would me most unfair to hundreds of thousands of Virginians, and the rich and interesting history of this Commonwealth.

Vote NO on 812. The systematic erasing of Virginia history is shameful and has to stop. Leave my vehicle plates alone!

I AM 100% AGAINSTPASSING the HB 812 Bill to recall and stop issuing of the General Robert E. Lee commemorative license plate. This is a travesty to approve Bill HB 812 I will be checking to see who voted for and against. This will determine my next vote Thank you for your support Jim

Vote NO on HB 812. I paid for the opportunity to own a Robert E. Lee plate because Lee was a great Virginian. STOP ERASING HISTORY. This bill is an affront to my ability of expression and freedom of speech. Please vote NO.

I served my country faithfully in the Army. Free speech is the cornerstone of our society. Over 20 of my ancestors Defended the Commonwealth of Virginia against an invasion of its borders by the US Army in 1861. I am a 2nd cousin of Robert E. Lee, the most famous Virginian second to only George Washington. The destruction of Confederate history by elected and appointed officials in Richmond must stop. Confederate history IS Virginia's history. This selective rewriting of history and the destruction of monuments built by the veterans themselves, and their sons and daughters, is worse that ISIS destroying monuments in Syria. I'm a VMI graduate and I am utterly ashamed at the Commonwealth right now, to the point I no longer drive through Richmond nor shop anywhere near there- no hotels, no eating establishments, not even gas for my car. I have scores of friends that are doing the same. Respectfully submitted, Major William Brown, US Army (Ret)

Robert E. Lee was a great Virginian. He led the defense of Virginia and the South when it was invaded by a foreign country on its northern border. Following the war he led in the effort to reconcile the two waring parties. For many years Lee's home state of Virginia has honored him, in a small way, by having his portrait on vehicle license plates. There is no legitimate reason to stop issuing these plates. I urge you to vote against HB812 and let us keep our Robert E. Lee plates.

Good Day, Please do not take away license plates honoring Confederate leaders. They answered Virginia’s call so please do not desert them. Thank you, Mr. Smith

I implore you to vote against HB 812. I cannot imagine a group having such hate for a true gentleman, scholar, leader and a much-loved human being. I certainly hope and pray that you will not pass this bad piece of legislation. I assume someone asked Delegate Mundon to introduce this piece of legislation. Surely a delegate serving in our General Assembly would not create such a bill.

I disagree with this bill. Stop trying to rewrite history.

Vote no to this bill, enough is enough.

To vote for this Bill HB 812, to prohibit the production of the Robert E. Lee license plate, is racial discrimination against me as a white man. I have ancestors who fought in both the Confederate Army and in the Union Army and I am a military Veteran who served my country during the Vietnam War. As stated in the Declaration of Independence, "All men are created equal." To single out a group, either racially or because of their allegiance to a cause, and to silence them is against our fundamental rights as American citizens. To vote yes for this bill is to disenfranchise me as a voting citizen of the Commonwealth of Virginia. Please vote NO on HB 812. My family and I will be watching how our representatives vote on this important issue. Robert Edward Lee should be honored and emulated by all Virginians. If they did, we would never find ourselves facing the challenges that we face today.

Please vote to keep the Gen. Robert E. Lee license plates. Gen. Lee was a great Virginian who served Virginia faithfully in both war and peace.

Robert E Lee was a great Virginian who has been honored by multiple US Presidents, both Democrat and Republican. His honor and leadership are admired by citizens all over Virginia and throughout the United States. His specialized license plate is a simple small gesture that does not warrant this type of legislation.

"So far from engaging in a war to perpetuate slavery, I am rejoiced that Slavery is abolished. I believe it will be greatly for the interest of the South. So fully am I satisfied of this that I would have cheerfully lost all that I have lost by the war, and have suffered all that I have suffered to have this object attained." Who wrote these words? ROBERT E. LEE. Please vote NO on HB 812, a bill that would prohibit the production of the Robert E. Lee license plate for the Commonwealth of Virginia. To pass a bill of this nature would be an infringement upon our liberties and freedom of expression and speech in Virginia. When my three children were young, I read them biographies of General Lee. I stated that he stood for honor, duty, and integrity and that if they were to emulate Robert E. Lee, they would be upstanding citizens and make me proud of them. Many residents in Virginia have Confederates in their lineage. We understand the complexity of the War, and we understand the numerous reasons the South had to stand up to the governmental overreach and tyrannical practices that were encumbering the South prior to the War--with heavy tariffs and taxes that were unfair. The War was waged to defend the South from these unlawful practices by the North. Please do not discriminate against the majority of Virginians who love their Commonwealth, respect their Confederate ancestors, and revere General Robert E. Lee, a true gentleman and someone whom we should all emulate.

Laws prohibiting national origin discrimination make it illegal to discriminate because of a person's birthplace, ancestry, culture or language. This means people cannot be denied equal opportunity because they or their family are from another country, because they have a name or accent associated with a national origin group, because they participate in certain customs associated with a national origin group, or because they are married to or associate with people of a certain national origin. There are many citizens of the Commonwealth, who have ancestry and cultural ties to the Confederate States of America. You may or may not like what you believe the Confederates States of America stood for. Most people don't even really know. But that doesn't matter. Those of us who have ancestral and cultural ties to the Confederate States of America, have the right to honor that heritage. Trying to deny us that right, is simply fueled by hatred and ignorance and has no place in a republic. I encourage all the members of this committee to disregard this bill for what it is.

Please vote NO to HB812 to prohibit the Robert E Lee plates. Many people just want to honor and remember the good things about General Lee. There is no hate involved. Displaying a General Lee license plate may not be your cup of tea, but it harms no one. Are Virginians better off by passing this bill? I don't think so. We need to remember who we are, where we came from, and how we got here, to move forward in a positive way. Vote NO.

I am writing to urge that HB 812, which would lead to the recall of license plates commemorating Robert E. Lee, be rejected. This bill is an egregious attempt to further hide our history by making blanket judgments about historical figures and times. Robert E. Lee was as honorable an American as has ever lived. If commemorative plates honoring Lee are banned, why stop there, why not ban plates honoring Washington? The logic behind this bill could easily be turned against the viewpoints of those who sponsor it today. What would stop a future General Assembly of banning plates that the current majority hold in high esteem? HB 812 is political correctness run amok. I do not have a plate commemorating General Lee, but I believe every Virginian who seeks to remember historical figures such as Lee, even though the current majority dislikes him, have every legitimate right to do so. Please reject this bill. It is not up to the General Assembly to tell us which historical figures we can and cannot honor on our license plates.

Advocacy for this proposed legislation ADVERTISES abject ignorance of history. General Lee did not favor slavery OR secession! "So far from engaging in a war to perpetuate slavery, I am rejoiced that Slavery is abolished. I believe it will be greatly for the interest of the South. So fully am I satisfied of this that I would have cheerfully lost all that I have lost by the war, and have suffered all that I have suffered to have this object attained." - Gen Robt E Lee. Anyone can be forgiven for being uninformed--but NOT for staying ignorant. The former reflects only an inadequate education. The latter is an indictment of character. Educated and intelligent legislators should HOPE that the sponsor would withdraw the proposed bill...but it if goes forward, it SHOULD do so without a single additional vote!

I would urge you to vote NO on this bill. It will do absolutely nothing to help race relations in this state or country. Robert E. Lee was a son of Virginia and graduate of West Point Military Academy. When the Civil War broke out, he chose to fight for and defend his home and State of Virginia as so many did. He was an educated man and did so much to ensure that Virginia moved forward and away from slavery after the war. The license plate honors a Gentleman and Patriot of Virginia without any racial bias or prejudice. Please do not remove another piece of our southern history and heritage from us! Removing it will accomplish absolutely nothing. Thank you for your consideration and support.

I don’t understand why you feel the need to continue removing our free speech rights! We should be able to freely express our views on what we want displayed on our Own vehicles! General Lee was one of not the greatest Military generals of both the US and Confederate ranks. All we ever asked was to be left alone! Greg Fuller

Please do not recall the Robert E Lee license plates. I have had them for several years and am proud of my history & heritage. I honestly don't see where they are causing any issues except for the people that are wanting to erase our past. I urge you to vote for them to stay. Thank you

I strongly OPPOSE the passage of House Bill 812

The last I checked, I live in Virginia, where, to the best of my knowledge, we have freedom of speech and freedom of expression. This recent movement on behalf of the historically ignorant segment of the population has declared war on our history and it's players. Anything and everything related to the Confederacy has been the subject of hatred, ridicule, blasphemy, desecration, vandalism by the same people who display a "Coexist" bumper sticker on their car. Hypocrisy at it's finest. I would suggest that you continue to allow the Robert E. Lee license plates to be issued and remain in circulation. How about introducing a bill to teach history instead of attempting to erase it. You should be ashamed of yourselves for even considering such a bill that I'm commenting on. It's time to grow up.

I would respectfully ask that this bill be withdrawn and the attack on our history be stopped. It makes no sense to desecrate history as it is the only way we can learn from past mistakes. Robert E Lee , a true gentleman in every sense of the word, should be emulated, not destroyed. I hope we can all come together on this issue. Thank you

Please do not take the rights of VA citizens being allowed to put Confederate leaders on license plates. This is a betrayal of rights, to identify as sons or daughters of VA, and southern identity.

Please vote NO on the proposed amendment to recall the Virginia Gentleman (Lee)license plate. Lee was one of Virginia's finest sons and deserves his place in our history. Removing him from this form of admiration does nothing to unite us as citizens of the Commonwealth. It serves to divide us even further. Where does this erasure stop?

Comments Document

Please vote NO on the proposed amendment to recall Virginia Gentleman (Lee) license plate. Where does this erasure stop?

I have a Lee license plate and I would like to keep it. I consider him a great Virginian and do not see the need to erase him from the history of our great Commonwealth. If we get rid of Lee on car license plates, who or what will be next?

LEAVE THE ROBERT E LEE TAG AS IT IS

Please vote NO to HB812 to recall the Robert E. Lee license plates. We must look beyond the conflict of the Civil War and honor the efforts made to reunite this country. Most historians agree that Lee’s efforts to promote peace following the American Civil War were essential in the reunification of the nation. Douglas Southall Freeman wrote that “the Confederates came to consider it as much the course of patriotism to emulate General Lee in peace as it had been to follow him in war. More than any other American, General Lee kept the tragedy of the war from being a continuing national calamity.” Please do your duty to block this divisive Bill. Thank you for your consideration. Kenneth Bage Hopewell, VA

Please vote "NO" on HB812. Robert E. Lee showed the path to reconciliation after the War. We ALL could learn this message today. This should be his legacy.

Please vote NO on HB 812 concerning the R. E. Lee and other Confederate related license plates. Do not limit free speech .

Please vote NO on the proposed amendment to recall the Virginia Gentleman (Lee)license plate. Lee was one of Virginia's finest sons and deserves his place in our history. Removing him from this form of admiration does absolutely nothing to bring us together as citizens of the Commonwealth. In fact, it serves to divide us even further. Where does this erasure stop?

I emphatically OPPOSE HB812. There is no just cause to recall the Robert E. Lee plates. To do so is divisive and an utter disgrace to the legacy of Virginia and to those who were willing to give their all to defend and protect her. If only more men, and women, displayed the same Christian character and devotion to duty as did Lee and others like him, this state, and indeed this country would be far better off. GOD BLESS ROBERT E LEE!

This Bill is a violation of the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution and opens the Commonwealth up to expensive litigation. The Commonwealth has many different personalized license plates, several of which may offend others, but are tolerated because each person has a right in this country to speak their own opinion. If this license plate is done away with, then you should do away with all the others for fear they may offend someone and they all must meet the same requirements to be issued in the first place. It is a mystery to me how this license plate has been issued since 2007 ( 17 years) and just now people are beginning to be offended by it. Can it be that certain individuals want vengeance against others that have been dead for 150 years, or do they wish to sow the seeds of divisiveness for political and financial gain, or do they want both of the aforementioned..

FAVOR. The Commonwealth should not be issuing commemorative license plates glorifying the American Civil War or its leaders. In particular, Robert E. Lee himself did not want to be honored for his participation in the war. The War has divided Americans for too long, and it is time for it to stop.

I am writing to all delegates to vote NO to ban the Robert E Lee license plate. All speciality plates are designed and prepaid by organizations and are available to all Virginia citizens. They are not mandated by the state. It is an individuals choice to purchase one or not. For the General Assembly to eliminate a previously approved plate is discriminatory, a violation of free choice ,and another example of erasure of Virginia history. This is a Virginia license plate; Robert E Lee was a Virginian who was loyal to Virginia, and was instrumental in saving Washington College after the Civil War. Will you also remove Washington and Lee University’s plate? Vote NO on HB 812! Sincerely, Karen Grigg

I enthusiastically SUPPORT HBs 20, 21, 282, 532, 533, 657, 793, 812, 905, 1071, 1072, and 1077. Thank you.