FOR
REMOVAL OF CONFEDERATE FLAG
AT SOUTH CAROLINA STATE HOUSE
DIVERSE
CROWD MAKES HISTORIC KING DAY RALLY January 17. 2000
The
unprecedented demonstration was a multi-racial, multi-denominational effort
that included a cross section of young and old people, business leaders,
elected officials, civil rights, labor and professional organizations and
students.
Singing
“The flag is coming down today” to the tune of “We Shall Overcome,” marchers
carried signs and posters that read “Your Heritage Is My Slavery” and “Take
It Down Now.”
Kweisi Mfume, NAACP President and CEO, told the protesters during the keynote address: “We will continue to march and continue to boycott until it flies no more. Although Jim Crow is dead, Jim Crow Jr. is alive and well. Those who support the Confederate Flag of the Klan, the Skin Heads, the Militia and other hate groups support bigotry and racial intolerance.”
Mfume noted that this show of widespread opposition to the flag is perhaps the greatest civil rights march since the 1960’s.
NAACP
South Carolina Conference of Branches President James Gallman presided
over the program at the steps of the State House along with Columbia College
President Phyllis Bonanno.
NAACP
National Board members Lenny Springs and Adora Obi Nweze, and SCF Member
Hazel Dukes attended along with busloads of NAACP’ers from across the state
of South Carolina, North Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, Maryland, New York
and Florida.
Other
speakers included Hugh Price, President/CEO, National Urban League, the
Rev. Patrick Price, Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Columbia, Mayor
Joe Riley of Charleston, Dr. David Swinton, President Benedict College
and Donna Dewitt, South Carolina AFL-CIO.
Several
choirs, including the Richland District One Children’s Choir from Columbia
and the Bethel AME Mass Choir from Baltimore, provided musical selections.
The
NAACP officially called for economic sanctions against the South Carolina
tourism industry to begin on January 1, 2000 and continue until the Confederate
battle flag is removed from the capitol grounds.
