Lawsuit to force removal a giant Confederate flag from the side of Interstate 65 near Verbena

Associated Press ^ | July 4, 2005

[robowombat]

Confederate Flag Associated Press

A Birmingham Civil Rights activist and radio talk show host says he plans to file a lawsuit to force the Sons of Confederate Veterans to remove a giant Confederate flag from the side of Interstate 65 near Verbena.

The flag is flying above the tree line from a pole on land owned by the Sons of Confederate Veterans on the side of the highway.

The flag was dedicated a week ago and the commander of the Alabama division of the organization, Leonard Wilson, has said the giant banner will become a permanent fixture.

But activist Frank Matthews says the flag violates state law and rules concerning billboards and displays on the side of federal highways. Matthews says he plans to seek a court order to have the flag taken down.

Matthews delivered a letter Thursday to Gov. Riley's office asking the governor to work to have the flag taken down.

Riley says he has no problem with the Sons of Confederate Veterans flying the flag on private property.

[mnehring]

This reminds me of my favorite bumper sticker:

[JLS]

This one strikes me more as WE WON, GET OVER IT. If some fool wants to fly a flag on his private property announcing to the world that he is living in the past, why do we care?

[Red Badger]

If it were a UN flag or other flag would they be upset? Private property? No such thing........anymore.......

[Moose4]

Riley says he has no problem with the Sons of Confederate Veterans flying the flag on private property.

...as long as absolutely nobody can see it and get their widdle feewings hurt.

Riley needs to shut up and deal with it. There is no Constitutional right to never see something that you may disagree with; if there was, we could shut down the lamestream media in a heartbeat.

}:-)4

[cowboyway]

Riley says he has no problem with the Sons of Confederate Veterans flying the flag on private property

There's a liberal yankee judge somewhere just champing at the bit to seize this piece of private property.

[siunevada]

the flag violates state law and rules concerning billboards and displays on the side of federal highways.

Maybe he'll also be going for the topless bar advertisements available to all the kiddies riding down the federal highways with mom and dad. I doubt it. Wouldn't want to interfere with commerce.

[goldstategop]

The flag is flying on private property. If this liberal twerp doesn't like the message it represents, stay off the damned freeway! I don't think its being tolerant to censor other people's views cause they offend you. Heck, if Alabama never mind the South offends this guy, nothing stops him from being free to leave it!

(Denny Crane: "Sometimes you can only look for answers from God and failing that... and Fox News".)

[RebelBanker]

FYI, amigo!

[sandydipper]

The flag is part of American history - leave it alone. If you don't like it - don't look.

[cowboyway]

The below photograph is memorial to Confederate dead erected on private property in downtown Salem, SC. (I live near there)

If you're offended, build a bridge and get over it.

[Between the Lines]

It's located along a section of the interstate known for extravagant displays, including a water tower shaped as a peach and a billboard with the message, "Go to Church or the Devil will get you!

[stainlessbanner]

Molon Labe

[Bar-Face]

Since we do not have a photo, I can only assume that the S.O.C. are flying the Confederate battle flag. As the great grandson of one of Forrest's 12th Mississippi, I have to say I agree with the late Shelby Foote. Too many good people allowed scum like the KKK and other hate groups to appropriate that flag. Our silence when it was used by the KKK and THE AMERICAN NAZI PARTY was an abdication of the honor that flag held. The battle flag NEVER flew over any Confederate building or any official happening. If we want to honor memories of our Confederate ancestors we should abandon The Battle Flag. The Starry Cross. The Southern Cross. What we need to do is fly the Stars and Bars. The first Confederate Flag with it's 13 stars (Stars) and three strips (bars) could be flown over any and all of our memorials and would offend few if any.

[StonyBurk]

Gee and when the Court demands the American flag be retired so the freaking Rainbow flag of that queer nation can be hoisted will your silly bumper snicker claim the same? DOn't forget in St.Petersberg the Court ordered that
city post the flag of a queer nation so I guess You Lost get over it.

[yankhater]

I find such a position as that bumper sticker appalling coming from a conservative.

Indeed many of those descendants of the Confederates are the very voters that ensured the rise of modern conservatism. Without Southerners how many elections would the Republicans win? Would there have been a Reagan or a Bush?

I am no neo-confederate but I do support the historic display of the Confederate flag. Perhaps these people's motives aren't the best...but I find offensive the wanton hatred of the history of the South by many conservatives. The south, esp. in the military has long since proven it's loyalty to the USA.

I wonder in regards to your "you lost get over it" mentality...

Do you make a habit of saying such a statement at the Vietnam Memorial?

Do you have a bumper sticker with such a comment when you drive through an Indian reservation?

Whether the people who put up the flag had good or bad motivations is beside the point. The enemies of this I-65 flag do not care about history. They care about the all mighty lock step liberalism. Whatever you feelings about the years 1861-1865, I think conservatives should be united against leftist PC hate groups.

YH

[StonyBurk]

If it were a UN flag the people filing the Lawsuit would be
sent to a reeducation camp.And you are so right about the
Private property not existing anymore.Carried a UNObserver
card I downloaded some time ago that Says much about them
people. Think I upset the local Pointy Ear Political Party supporters marching by.

[mnehring]

I don't have a problem with people's freedom to display what they want. I, however, am expressing the same right in shaking my head that people would glorify the Confederacy.

[GreenLanternCorps]

It's private property, so it is the SCVs right to fly the flag. However,it should be the one of the three rebel national flags not the Naval Jack/Army of the Tennessee flag.

[TaxRelief]

The solution for the Matthews is simple: he need only start a campaign to have this property belonging to the Sons of Confederate Veterans siezed under eminent domain and sold for private commercial development.