University of Virginia Library

Holton Speaks On Flag Ban,
Stresses Racial Harmony

By JIM MASSEY

Governor Linwood Holton, speaking
in Richmond last week to a conference of
about 55 student journalists from state
colleges and universities, addressed the
question of the flag ban at the
University's Scott Stadium.

Communication Obstacles

Speaking against attachment to
symbols and stressing the need for
communication, understanding and
reconciliation the Governor said, "There
appears to me to be disproportionate attention
to various symbols and even words, code words,
and so forth and it gives me great concern
because the whole thing is hindering
communications of all people that I believe
honestly are trying to solve some of the
problems, such as the overall need for an honest
reconciliation of race relations."

The Governor further added that these
symbols and their use often does represent an
exercise in free speech which is protected by
the First Amendment of the Constitution.

Speech Restriction

He commented, however, "The first
amendment of the Constitution has a
restriction, a famous restriction enunciated by
Justice Holmes, that free speech doesn't extend
to permitting the yelling of "fire" in a crowded
theatre. Certainly, that is a valid restriction on
the exercise of free speech. But regardless of
any specific example, it does seem to me, that
the South today, particularly the South, with a
strong tradition, and I think a good one, of
reserve, and that it represents a feeling of
tolerance."

Understanding

The Governor went on to say, "I think the
South has a great opportunity to help people,
all people of all color, understand the fact that
you can disagree with a position taken be
somebody else, in a way that is not personally
offending to other."

Photo by Saxon Holt

Linwood Holton

Governor Discusses Flag Ban

Governor Holton stated that the key to
General Lee's action had been a feeling of
tolerance and the desire to "bring us back
together."

Traditional Tolerance

He added, "The last five years of his (Lee's)
life, the time when he was president of
Washington college were Robert E. Lee's finest
hours and in that tradition, I think again the
South can help and I hope that all of us no
matter what our position might be, no matter
what deficiencies there have been toward a
particular group in the past, no matter what
temptations there might be for another group
in the present, I would hope that we can follow
the tradition of tolerance and trying to avoid
the things that handicap us in trying to solve
the problem."