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.

[shuckmaster]

Here's a South Carolina vendor I highly recommend!

[streetsmart]

For sure I will be shopping, buying gas, & staying overnite in SC on my next trip east. (Buy the way SC has some of the cheapest gas prices in the nation), they don't tax people to death.

[ROCKLOBSTER]

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

The RATS (Fritz Hollings) put it up, let the RATS take it down.

Sounds like a good poster for a FReeper to be carrying.

[DoughtyOne]

If there were a serious problem afflicting blacks I might be convinced to join in under the proper circumstances. But this opens the door to the reverse if there is not a serious problem. If the NAACP is going to pull this kind of garbage when there isn't a problem, then I guess the public is free to boycott any suspected members of the NAACP in retaliation.

Wanna play games? Okay, lets play games. If the American public is as fed up with whining as I am, the NAACP is about to get the lesson of their life.

[Drew68]

The boycotts didn't work. Some say they had the opposite effect. So now the NAACP will start using physical intimidation to keep people away.

Overheard from a South Carolinian, "If we take down the flag, can we still keep the boycott?"

[End Times Sentinel]

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.

Come on Archie! If they did that, it might create the false appearance that some how blacks are responsible for the horrid state of affairs in black America. Us enlightened types realize that the brother can never possibly succeed while distracted by a Confederate flag being flow somewhere!

Note to self: Stop in South Carolina to buy one of their state flags.

Owl _ Eagle
“Guns before butter.”

[cyberaxe]

.....I live in SC.....

.....I have black freinds that are business owners down here.....

.....The NAACP is the Klan with a Tan.....

.....and the blacks in this state with motives other than that of J.J. and the likes.....

.....are being hurt by those Arse Holes.....

[ChadsDad]

you can't just hang out on the side of the interstate....

[Mamzelle]

They want publicity, and a few fights would give it to them.

[verboten]

Taking responsibility for their own actions as a people removes power from the NAACP. As long as it is someone elses fault they have a cause and are assured never to solve the problem and thus always retain power. They follow the example of democratic government as practised in the US.

[lowbridge]

Damn...if I only had the money, I'd go and spend it on South Carolina right now!

[areafiftyone]

Too late - I already stayed in South Carolina when I drove down to Florida. I was happy to give them my money at the hotel and restaurant and will do it again. As a New Yorker if I saw these selfish and idiotic people trying to block my way I would drive right thru them. Nothing makes me more angry than someone trying to dictate what I should do with my time and money.

[lowbridge]

You know something.....this could be the best thing that ever happened to the tourist industry of South Carolina!

[verboten]

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.

This seems strange. I'm against the boycott, but how is it illegal? I'd say I'm just as opposed to the idea that a boycott could be illegal.

[cyberaxe]

.....phunnie you mentioned the Gov.....

.....he's a RAT that ran against the sitting GOP Gov.....

.....and the RAT's biggist ploy to get the redneck vote.....
.....(other than keeping video gambling).....

.....was the slogan.....

....."Keep the Flag-Dump Beasley".....

[hangin' chad]

I'll be vacationing at Hilton Head this summer as usual...and giving the finger to these folks on the border. South Carolina already removed the Confederate battle flag from the top of their state capital building...now the NAALCP wants to eradicate all remembrances of the Confederacy...they'll never be happy...screw 'em.

[ao98]

I live 20 miles from the Highway 25 and I-26 border crossings. Can anybody write a brochure to hand out to people at the facts. We need to get the truth out.

Some of the facts:
The flag is now on the Conferderate Soldier Memorial, were else should a battle flag be?
Democrat Senator Fritz Hollings raised the Flag 1961(?).
Please ad facts and correct mine as needed.