Half U.S. backs Confederate History Month

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WASHINGTON, May 5 (UPI) -- Half of U.S. residents support proclaiming Confederate History Month, a new poll reports.

Almost one-third support a ban on public displays of Confederate symbols, while 43 percent oppose a ban, Angus Reid Public Opinion said Tuesday.

Governors in several Southern states issue proclamations of Confederate History Month. This year, Virginia Gov. Robert McDonnell's proclamation became controversial because the original document omitted any mention of slavery and because the Republican revived the celebration after two Democratic governors did not recognize it.

Overall, 50 percent of those surveyed support Confederate History Month while only 27 percent oppose it. Respondents in every region were more likely to support the month than oppose it.

Westerners were more likely to oppose a ban on Confederate symbols than those in other regions, including the South.

Angus Reid, an international polling company based in Canada, surveyed 1,002 adults on line on April 14 and April 15. The poll has a margin of error of 3.1 percent.