Danville organization prepared to sue if city leaders decide to remove flag

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DANVILLE (WSLS10) One organization in Danville is ready to file a lawsuit after leaders in the city came up with a proposed ordinance that would take the flag down.

If approved, the ordinance would only allow the U.S., Virginia, City of Danville, and MIA/POW flags fly within city limits.

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The president,  of Hertiage Preservation Assocation, the orgnaization in charge of changing the flag, Robert Byrd said members in the organization and the city of Danville  made a contractual agreement about 20 years ago.

Byrd said, part of the agreement is the flag will fly, even if future leaders wanted to take it down, which is why Byrd said he's prepared to file a lawsuit if the city moves forward with a proposed ordinance that could force the flag down.

"To try and backdoor and remove the confederate flag off the monument we're not going to stand for it we're going to hold them to their word," Byrd said.

City leaders said it's too early to tell if a lawsuit could be filed, because council will have to vote on the proposed ordinance next week.

"We're working out who owns those flagpoles and if it turns the city owns the flag poles, the flags on those poles would have to be in compliance with the ordinance," Ken Larking, Deputy city manager said.