'It's theater of the absurd': Monument Avenue Commission's first public hearing borders on chaotic

Via Keith "My family was there.  No intelligent discourse from the anti monument side.  One thing was clear-there will be signs and the signs will paint a hateful view of the Confederate side of history."

So much for civility.

More than 500 people gathered Wednesday in the Virginia Historical Society auditorium for the contentious first public hearing of Mayor Levar Stoney’s Monument Avenue Commission. The event, held with the intent to gather input on how best to add context to the Confederate statues lining Monument Avenue, bordered on chaotic as more than 40 speakers weighed in and tempers flared.

The standing-room-only crowd weathered a tense, two-hour hearing that saw members of the commission attempt in vain to keep the conversation civil as speakers offered opposing viewpoints.

Audience members, at points, heckled or shouted down some speakers with whom they disagreed.

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