Re “Eye Opening,” editorial July 16-18 edition:

Your editorial had much of interest to your readers, but you failed to tell the whole story.

Your readers should be told that it was the Democratic Party for about 150 years, down through Massive Resistance, which waived the Confederate Flag and suppressed and mistreated the enslaved and later free black population in Virginia with some coordination with the KKK.

The current Republican actions to allow use of the Confederate flag on federal property, including national cemeteries and in national parks are relatively unimportant and minor by comparison, and have a justification as individual rights and free speech.

Do not let your politics interfere with your Free Press editorial goals.

Your readers will benefit from the current exhibit at the Library of Virginia dealing with the conditions in Virginia during Reconstruction. See also the Library of Virginia pamphlet on “A full vote, a free ballot, and a fair count” published in 2000.

URCHIE B. ELLIS

Henrico County