Governor’s Proclamation Omission Puts Virginia in Negative Light, Critics Say: RICHMOND Va. – Under pressure from critics, Gov. Bob McDonnell on Wednesday called it a 'major omission' not noting slavery in declaring April Confederate History Month in Virginia.
As part of his mea culpa, McDonnell inserted into the proclamation a paragraph condemning slavery and blaming it as the cause of the Civil War.
“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, vicious and inhumane practice which degraded human beings to property, and it has left a stain on the soul of this state and nation,” he said in a 400-word statement.
