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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: uglybiker
Hey Uglybiker! Coming home for the Grits festival? If you do, you better let me know.
421 posted on 01/13/2002 6:12:22 PM PST by dixie sass
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To: one2many
OOPS, I forgot the link. For further enjoyable reading on this subject go here.
422 posted on 01/13/2002 6:13:27 PM PST by one2many
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To: uglybiker
and bring the rest of the chapter with you!
423 posted on 01/13/2002 6:14:17 PM PST by dixie sass
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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

Best post I've seen in months. Preach it Brother!

424 posted on 01/13/2002 6:14:53 PM PST by mrfixit514
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To: IronJack
No
425 posted on 01/13/2002 6:15:20 PM PST by dixie sass
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To: TrueReform; dixie sass; stand watie; Commonsense
Now, that is a hellofanidea!

Flood the NAACP with receipts of purchases made in SC, appropriately de-identified, of course!

That'll drive the NAACP nuts!

426 posted on 01/13/2002 6:17:41 PM PST by Taxman
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To: JD86
I don't perceive the danger that has been mentioned. Especially if we have numbers, and/or cameras present.
427 posted on 01/13/2002 6:31:47 PM PST by SC Swamp Fox
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To: SC Swamp Fox
I don't know the timing of my trip yet. I will definitely visit South Carolina before the end of summer. And, as trouble sometimes finds me, I usually travel with a camera and a tape recorder. Old habits die hard...:) I look forward to visiting your lovely state...and will bring cash to spend. Thanks for the open door invitation.
428 posted on 01/13/2002 6:35:20 PM PST by JD86
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To: one2many
Thank you.

You won't read that in The State.

429 posted on 01/13/2002 6:38:38 PM PST by SC Swamp Fox
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To: tinacart
No insinuation intended. Just pointing out that the whiners already did form such an organization. Of course, the media fawns all over the NAACP.
430 posted on 01/13/2002 6:42:47 PM PST by Clemenza
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To: PJeffQ
Check out #419. The link is in #422.
431 posted on 01/13/2002 6:44:52 PM PST by SC Swamp Fox
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To: JD86; ALL
Anyone planning a trip to SC may want to check out this web site ..... and, no, I don't work for the Chamber of Commerce or even live in SC. I just happen to know about the site because of a trip that we are planning there at the end of the month (purely by coincidence, planned before learning about this action by the NAALCP).

Myrtle Beach

432 posted on 01/13/2002 6:46:40 PM PST by kayak
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To: kayak
Thanks for the link. Have a good trip.
433 posted on 01/13/2002 7:01:14 PM PST by JD86
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To: dixie sass
Done. And when the weather is warm...

My dad's sister married a farmer from Cassette SC. That's near Lucknow. So during the summers of my youth I would go to their farm and help them pick peas, melons, tomatoes, cotton and such. (Cotton was the hardest of all to pick btw) Anyway, we would take the tomatoes, melons, peas etc that we had picked...load them on my uncles pick up truck and haul to Camden where we would go door to door selling the goods. I was the runner taking the goods to the patron normally resting on her front porch in a rocker with the cash for our goods concealed in her bra...and they would all smile at me as they reached to pull it out as if I were witnessing something I hadn't seen before. Anyway, at the end of the day for my efforts my uncle always bought me an RC Cola and a Moonpie...and then a pack of Winstons that my parents never knew about. True story.

434 posted on 01/13/2002 7:04:59 PM PST by takenoprisoner
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To: shuckmaster
Why don't they go to Africa, Sudan in particular, an publicize the fact that real, honest-to-god SLAVERY exists there and needs more attention then some 160 year old historical artifact!
435 posted on 01/13/2002 7:07:33 PM PST by Young Werther
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To: takenoprisoner
True story.

Good story. Thank you.

436 posted on 01/13/2002 7:15:11 PM PST by SC Swamp Fox
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To: mfulstone
Uh, persuading people is not a terrorist activity.
437 posted on 01/13/2002 7:30:23 PM PST by Britton J Wingfield
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To: shuckmaster
I go through SC all the time. Someone who touches me, blocks me, or otherwise interferes with me in order to prevent my travel had better have a good will.
438 posted on 01/13/2002 7:36:44 PM PST by wattsmag2
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To: shuckmaster
439 replies in 12 hours. Not bad.
439 posted on 01/13/2002 7:41:16 PM PST by SC Swamp Fox
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To: classygreeneyedblonde
I HATE rap music!
440 posted on 01/13/2002 7:45:35 PM PST by No!
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