NAACP to 'patrol' South Carolina borders

The State ^ | 1/13/02 | RODDIE BURRIS

[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.

[JD86]

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[JD86]

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Thank you. Knew you would know the right place to go for the information...:)

[cyberaxe]

.and being careful to only counterboycott the supporters of the Klan with a Tan.

.....thanks.....

.....99.99999% of the blacks down here wish the Klan with a Tan.....

.....would just go away.....

.....far away.....

[JD86]

Intolerant black people...don'tcha love 'em?!?

Unfortunately, BIGOTS come in all colors.

[crystalk]

Why don't they go patrol Zimbabwe's borders instead?

[JD86]

Thanks for the suggestions. I may just take a tour of the state and tell all the good folks there how much we appreciate them.

[JD86]

.....99.99999% of the blacks down here wish the Klan with a Tan..... .....would just go away..... .....far away.....

LOL, I think that is true in every state...:)

[Gracey]

I'm not from SC but how about vacationing in the Appalachian mountains or Myrtle Beach? I'll meet you there with a confederate flag.

Any other takers?

[ivanhoe116]

"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."

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.

Isn't this contradictory?

[takenoprisoner]

Hey JD86, as an MP I once guarded the pass between Schofield Barracks and NAD Oahu...known as KoleKole Pass.

[The PeteMan]

"No Black Biker Week this year @ Myrtle Beach?" FINE with me!!! LOL

[Gracey]

I wonder if these so called NAACP instigators are from SC? Wonder if this is a Jesse Jackson or Al Sharpton instigation.

[cyberaxe]

.....somewhere to start.....

[SC DOC]

Charleston is a lovely city that is worth a visit. Be sure to check out the virtual tours on the link.

I have a condo in Charleston overlooking the harbor and this is one of the views off my balcony. It doesn't get any better.

[JD86]

Gracey, I am having a big birthday next month, and I am so sick and tired of all the pc garbage that I am going to invoke the "age has it's privileges" and start raising all kinds of cain. I figure it would be bad publicity for them to take on a "semi-old" white grandmother.

I think the grandparents could get together and take this country back from the liberal leeches. They don't produce anything anyway. It's time to say ENOUGH! What do you think?

[JD86]

Isn't this contradictory?

ROFLOL!!

[JD86]

Hey JD86, as an MP I once guarded the pass between Schofield Barracks and NAD Oahu...known as KoleKole Pass.

How cool! When were you there? We lived just down the road. I have a picture of my son at KoleKole Pass when he was 3 months old. We loved being stationed at Schofield Barracks.

[Don@VB]

VISIT SOUTH OF THE BORDER

You can support South Carolina and buy some cool fireworks. No home should be without m-80's

[JD86]

I wonder if these so called NAACP instigators are from SC? Wonder if this is a Jesse Jackson or Al Sharpton instigation.

Wherever they are from, you called it right. They are instigators. They don't want to fix the problems....they just want to live off the efforts of others. I'm ready for some of these so called "non-profit" organizations to be investigated for their political activity. This threat to molest travelers entering South Carolina and saying they will have "protection" is nothing more that a threat of violence on interstate commerce. They are thugs, nothing more.

[cyberaxe]

No home should be without m-80's

.....yeh, but even we don't have the real ones anymore.....

.....blowed-up old GI Joe pretty good in the 70's with the real ones.....