New Castle Ends ‘Confederate’ Month
AP, April 4, 2007
The mayor of an east central Indiana city repealed a proclamation naming April “Confederate History and Heritage” month just three days after making it, saying he had not expected the move to generate controversy.
New Castle Mayor Tom Nipp issued an executive order to rescind the proclamation, which was proposed by Stephen Ritchie, a member of an organization for descendants of Confederate soldiers.
{snip}
Nipp said he repealed the proclamation March 29 in part because some people found it offensive.
{snip}
Ritchie, who is a member of Sons of Confederate Veterans, said he submitted the request to commemorate history.
Nipp said the mayor’s office receives numerous requests for proclamations and he usually reviews about half the requests before weekly board meetings. He did not read Ritchie’s request before the March 26 meeting, he said.
