A protester holds a flag during a Black Lives Matter march Tuesday, Sept. 1, 2020, in Kenosha, Wis. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)If you need help with the Public File, call 540-512-1554.

BEDFORD, Va. – When the Bedford County School Board decided Thursday to no longer allow the Confederate flag on school property, Bedford NAACP President Robert Carson called it a step in the right direction. Carson believes the flag is intertwined with segregation and intimidation, which he says he experienced growing up in Bedford. “It brings up a lot of memories.”Those feelings of discomfort became a reason why school board members approved the ban, four votes to two. The conversations concerning Confederate imagery in Bedford County kickstarted last year, when a picture featuring Jefferson Forest High School students holding Confederate flags spread through social media and among parents. “I don’t think they understood.

It’s the perfect time to put the red, white and blue out on display.

ROCKY MOUNT, Va. – The Confederate flag is light enough to fly freely in the Virginia breeze, but it carries a heavy emotional weight for some. Virginia Tech professor Dr. Wornie Reed believes Floyd’s death spurred people to remove symbols seen as dehumanizing black people, such as the Confederate flag. Marlin Friel moved to Rocky Mount from New York 30 years ago, and said she always equated the Confederate flag with Southern pride. That’s all it is.”A Confederate monument stands outside of the Franklin County Courthouse in Rocky Mount, Virginia. “The main symbol of the Southern resistance to blacks being a part of this society is the Confederate battle flag," Reed said.

CHARLOTTE – NASCAR has banned the Confederate flag from all its events and properties. The organization tweeted out its announcement on Wednesday afternoon, ahead of Martinsville’s night race. Here’s the full statement from NASCAR:The presence of the confederate flag at NASCAR events runs contrary to our commitment to providing a welcoming and inclusive environment for all fans, our competitors and our industry. Bringing people together around a love for racing and the community that it creates is what makes our fans and sport special. The display of the confederate flag will be prohibited from all NASCAR events and properties NASCARBubba Wallace, the sport’s lone black driver, announced on Sunday that he wanted Confederate flags banned at NASCAR events.

FRANKLIN COUNTY, Va. The Franklin County School Board banned the Confederate flag in the districts dress code in the midst of a renewed Black Lives Matter movement across the country. The ban passed during a virtual school board meeting on Monday night. Blue added that, to her, the Confederate flag represents hate. County residents like John Glasgow and Shirley Lester said the Confederate flag is part of history and banning it wont erase the past. "That we can all come together in Franklin County and really make Franklin County a wonderful place for everyone to live.

ROANOKE, Va. – Pass the Roanoke Rescue Mission and you may see the white flag waving. The flag goes go up when it’s 42 degrees and dry or 48 degrees and wet. The shelter encourages people who need to get out of the weather to use the shelter. Whether it’s case management, addiction services and anything like that,” said Kevin Berry, the community outreach with Roanoke Rescue Mission. Even if the shelter is at full capacity workers there are prepared with additional mattresses to accommodate as many people as possible.