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.

[tje]

If the NAACP wanted to stop the use of the Confederate flag, they'd claim it as their own and start putting it their vehicles and waving it at their conventions.

[MamaTexan]

So now the NAACP will start using physical intimidation to keep people away.

Maybe civil lawsuits should be filed since they are violating people's right to travel AND freedom of association. :)

[Mamzelle]

Hopefully, we can encourage the ignoring! It burns me up to see them treat their own home folks like this, but responding to it (other than to defiantly make an otherwise unexpected shopping trip to our Great State) would be folly.

[cyberaxe]

So now the NAACP will start using physical intimidation to keep people away.

.....they are dumb arses.....

.....but I don't believe that they are dumb enouf to try that down here.....

[MissAmericanPie]

And here I was looking for a place to vacation this year, S. Carolina here we come. I've always wanted to tour that area anyway.

[dagney]

This makes me really angry........If I were a resident of SC I would forge a campaign to have confederate flags spring up all over SC like daffodils in the springtime.

Guess it's time for this Southerner to take a trip to SC and spend some money. Savannah is a great place to visit in the winter.

All Southerners, black and white, should head for SC for Spring Break and help out our sister state. This racist BS has got to stop!!

The way to stop these unAmerican activities is to beat them soundly with money and action. Money talks BS walks!!!

[verboten]

The NAACP also has been urging athletes and entertainers to avoid coming to South Carolina.

Good for SC. I guess you wont have lovely fellows like LT buying and smoking crack in their state. And they will not have to worry about creatins comming into their state driking, fighting, and killing like Ray Lewis and his entourage. Nor will they have to worry about men like Rae Carruth killing SC women. And they can sleep soundly knowing that performers such as Brittany Spears will not be coming to their state and promoting sexualizing young children with her talentless 'music.'

[ao98]

My parents went over all over the south looking for a place to retire too. They picked Aiken South Carolina three years ago. They still love it there.

[sandydipper]

I like South Carolina and I like their flag. I don't like organized hate mongering. I'll stay the night in Beautiful SC!

[IronJack]

If any such thing occurred, I'd find the first gas station within sight of the protestor, stop and fill up, and buy a case of Twinkies to boot. And I'd whip out the cell phone and fake a call to Howard Johnson's for a week's stay. Anything to let these jerks know that THEIR protest isn't MY protest.

[oiljake]

I KEEP HEARING ABOUT EQUAL RIGHTS FOR ALL FROM THE NAACP HOW ABOUT THE RIGHTS OF THE BUSSINESSES OF S,C IF THEY DONT LIKE THE FLAG FLYING IN S.C JUST STAY WHERE EVER THE HELL THEY COME FROM AND TRY MINDING THEIR OWN DAMM BUSSINESS

[UberVernunft]

For anyone travelling on 95 here is one attraction you can't help but notice...

South of the Border

[Mamzelle]

I recommend the old part of Charleston, especially if you love historical tours. Most of Charleston is older than most of Boston! The oldest synagogue and Jewish burial ground is there, and a pampered, well-fed Clydesdale is waiting to take you on a buggy tour. Then go down to Beaufort and appreciate all that live oak/spanish moss ambience...buy a sweet-grass basket in the Market of Charleston from a nice black lady...

[DWSUWF]

"...This is total BS. There won't be any gauntlet of angry black people on the borders. Aside from a few shrill voices these extortionists will be ignored... in exactly the same way that South Carolinians ignore the remnants of the KKK..."

Oh, I realize that.

Probably a few hard core NAACPers, sitting in folding chairs in a rest stop or two, heads back, snoring, for a couple of days... Max.

[cyberaxe]

They defeat their own cause and diminish the image of honest working blacks.

.....of all the black business owners I know down here.....

.....not one of them gives a RAT's arse about a flag flying in Cola.....

[ao98]

As much as I support the flying of the Conderate Battle flag, I think that's what the NAAAA(national association of african americans) wants. If their were flags everywhere they would say it proves were still racists. I think bumper stickers that say somthing like
"The people of SC welcome visitors of all races, The NAACP says go away"

[BARGE]

More silly stuff from silly folks. Maybe they'll grow up in this century