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NAACP to 'patrol' South Carolina borders
The State ^ | 1/13/02 | RODDIE BURRIS

Posted on 01/13/2002 7:44:43 AM PST by shuckmaster

The NAACP will begin posting "border patrols" at various entryways into South Carolina within 30 days urging tourists not to stop in the Palmetto State, the civil rights group said Saturday.

"The border patrol is our way of standing at the Georgia and North Carolina borders (and asking) that you not stop, not stay in hotels, and don't buy gas" in South Carolina, said Nelson B. Rivers III, NAACP national field director. "Or better still, that you turn around."

The initiative is part of a plan the group unveiled Saturday to turn up the heat on state leaders in 2002 to completely remove the Confederate flag from the State House grounds.

Tourism officials reached Saturday expressed concern the action could hurt the state's economy, already laboring through a recession.

Rivers said the group will hold a third annual rally at the State House on Jan. 21, in part to protest the flag. The NAACP also will launch a national campaign that uses billboards, flyers, bumper stickers and television to discourage tourism in the state.

South Carolina has been the target of economic sanctions against tourism - at $9 billion a year, the state's largest industry - since 1999. Then, the NAACP began increasing pressure on the Legislature to take the Confederate emblem off the State House.

In what they said was a compromise, lawmakers removed the flag from the atop the State House, and from the Senate and House chambers in July 2000. At the same time, however, they raised a Confederate flag on a pole on the State House's front lawn.

In 1999-2000, tourism officials said the sanctions cost Columbia, Charleston, Myrtle Beach and Hilton Head $10 million in lost revenues. Since the compromise, the impact of the sanctions has waned, those officials have said.

'DISAPPOINTED IN THE DECISION'

However, tourism officials Saturday expressed concern about the NAACP's new plans.

"At Parks, Recreation and Tourism, we're disappointed in the decision to take these further actions," said Marion Edmonds, a spokesman for the state tourism department.

"We felt that the Legislature's decision to take the Confederate flag off the dome and out of the Senate and House chambers was a good-faith effort to resolve the issue."

Edmonds said he was unsure of the impact the new NAACP actions might have. "These are actions that have not been taken before in South Carolina, to my knowledge. We don't know what to expect."

Others expressed concern the actions could hurt the state's economy during a recession.

Tom Sponseller, president of the Hospitality Association of South Carolina, said, "Anything that can hamper tourism, especially in a time like this, could have a severe impact on the overall economy."

Ashby Ward, president of the Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce, said: "Right now, I'm angry. It borders on the ridiculous. The legislators from all walks of life settled on this situation in Columbia, and I realize nobody's happy, but it is a compromise. This issue should just be past."

Ward added: "It seems ridiculous in this kind of economy, with the nation focused on this war on terrorism - to drag something from the past out like this is beyond my comprehension."

Spokespersons for Gov. Jim Hodges did not return calls Saturday. House Speaker David Wilkins, R-Greenville, also could not be reached.

S.C. Attorney General Charlie Condon said the civil rights group's plan breaks the law.

"It's an illegal secondary boycott and so on behalf of the state of South Carolina I'm going to be looking into the possibility of bringing a lawsuit against them for monetary damages," Condon said.

In explaining the border patrols, Rivers said NAACP personnel periodically would be stationed at various South Carolina entrances, "with protection," to let travelers know that sanctions are still in place.

Rivers said he will spread the message that economic sanctions are still in place against South Carolina as he delivers speeches across the country over the next 45 days about black history.

"The NAACP has made up its mind," Rivers said at a monthly meeting of the state NAACP in Columbia. "We will not stop until the Confederate flag has been put where it should be - out of sight, out of mind."

The NAACP also has been urging athletes and entertainers to avoid coming to South Carolina. The group said it will continue that effort with fresh energy this year and in years to come.

State NAACP head James Gallman called on national religious leaders, meeting planners, performers, artists, athletes and others to avoid South Carolina. He also asked S.C. residents to honor the boycott by taking their vacations outside the state.


TOPICS: Breaking News; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: dixielist
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To: Vinnie
Maybe you should think about going, in fact, if Freepers that can will go, this might be the best tourist season S. Carolina has ever had, lol.
201 posted on 01/13/2002 11:25:49 AM PST by MissAmericanPie
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To: shuckmaster
P.S. How much you wanna bet, that all these boycotteers are government employees, often doing this on the time and the tab of the very same taxpayers whose lives they're trying to ruin?
202 posted on 01/13/2002 11:27:44 AM PST by mrustow
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To: cyberaxe
Could you please recommend some nice beaches for a family vacation we're planning to take this summer? I was thinking of going to North Carolina (we live in VA), but South Carolina is just down the road.
203 posted on 01/13/2002 11:31:29 AM PST by EverOnward
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To: shuckmaster
That will give all travelers a chance to tell the NAACP that its time to stop the "woe is me" black chorus in this country.
204 posted on 01/13/2002 11:35:57 AM PST by ASTM366
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To: shuckmaster
BWAAAHAAAHAAAHAAAA!!!!

Guess I'll have to get my signs out too.......BRING IT ON!!!!!!

I think I'll call my congress critter and 2 senators and see what they think.

I'm sure the 2 dimocrats will squirm...

205 posted on 01/13/2002 11:40:01 AM PST by SC_Republican
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To: EverOnward
.....Daufuskie Island.....

.....we love it.....

.....Kiawah Island.....

.....love it too.....

206 posted on 01/13/2002 11:41:04 AM PST by cyberaxe
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To: Twodees
If you go let me know. If this does happen, I'm headed down I-95 myself. It's only about 1 1/2 hours for me
207 posted on 01/13/2002 11:44:25 AM PST by billbears
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To: sig226
That's a new one on me. What is a Black National Anthem and what is a Black Pledge of Allegiance?

They are not jokes. They are variations on the US ones and are recited at NAACP and other such meetings.

208 posted on 01/13/2002 11:44:49 AM PST by MindBender26
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To: cyberaxe
".....Daufuskie Island.....
.....we love it.....
.....Kiawah Island.....
.....love it too....."

Thank you very much. Searching web now for accommodations. SC here we come!

209 posted on 01/13/2002 11:45:12 AM PST by EverOnward
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To: shuckmaster
The initiative is part of a plan the group unveiled Saturday to turn up the heat on state leaders in 2002 to completely remove the Confederate flag from the State House grounds.
Oh, that's not desparate. Good luck with that, guys.
210 posted on 01/13/2002 11:46:10 AM PST by Asclepius
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To: ao98
Heres one for you. The naalcp started the boycott to get the flag removed from the capitol dome. We removed the flag yet they continue the boycott.

Something about taking it off the roof and putting it in the front yard don't count. (bwhahahaha)

211 posted on 01/13/2002 11:46:21 AM PST by govols
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To: sig226
http://www.millwood.k12.ok.us/MPS%20Students.htm
212 posted on 01/13/2002 11:47:09 AM PST by MindBender26
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To: shuckmaster
Looks like I'll be taking a trip to SC to do this years Christmas shopping.
213 posted on 01/13/2002 11:49:12 AM PST by RickyJ
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To: Thorn11cav
What a racist piece of garbage post...
214 posted on 01/13/2002 11:53:56 AM PST by FreedomFighter86
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To: dansangel
What's with you people. Atlanta is a good place to live, granted you're not in Dekalb, Central and South Fulton, and Clayton (most) counties.
215 posted on 01/13/2002 11:59:19 AM PST by FreedomFriend
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To: doosee
today its sunny enough to get some tan. How can ya beat that on Jan. 13th?

Ya can't. It's sunny 66 degrees here on the north end of Lake Travis in central Texas. Watching football and smoking some pork ribs. Ahhhhhhhh

216 posted on 01/13/2002 12:01:16 PM PST by VinnyTex
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To: Clemenza
Small world. My brother and sister in law live in Simpsonville. Simpsonville was founded by my Simpson ancestors, one of whom moved to Chester county. His log house was donated to the state parks &rec. system and was moved to Landsford Canal state park.
217 posted on 01/13/2002 12:01:28 PM PST by Twodees
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To: billbears
I'll go with you. And I do NOT want them standing in North Carolina while they do this stupid stunt!
218 posted on 01/13/2002 12:02:37 PM PST by Howlin
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To: Archie Bunker on steroids
Time would be better spent in the Charleston projects encouraging black children to stay in school, fathers to stick around, and cleaning out the drug pushers. I guess that would not give them any media coverage.

Amen, brother

219 posted on 01/13/2002 12:03:19 PM PST by Go Gordon
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To: billbears
I'll coordinate with you. We can go to where they're having their little border guard checkpoints and stand around grinning for a fat man's @$$. ahaha
220 posted on 01/13/2002 12:07:36 PM PST by Twodees
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