Mall boots kiosk selling Confederate flag clothing

TuscaloosaNews ^ | December 13, 2002 | AP

[stainlessbanner]

The manager of a Mobile mall has evicted a merchant selling clothing with Confederate battle flag designs, citing complaints from people angered by the merchandise.

The merchant, Camo Unlimited, opened a kiosk in Colonial Mall Bel Air just after Thanksgiving. The Blountsville-based company sells Dixie Outfitters clothing at the Mobile mall and at other malls throughout the Southeast, owner Toby Smith said.

Dixie Outfitters offers more than 600 designs with themes such as hunting, trucks and dogs, all including the stars and bars of the Confederate battle flag. The clothing line's "Legends of the Confederacy" series features generals and other leaders of the Confederacy.

Smith said that soon after he opened the kiosk, employees of another store at the mall complained. Soon afterward, the mall's management told him to clear out by Sunday.

Tim Nolan, the mall's general manager, said he heard from several people who indicated the store could spur a boycott of the mall.

"May I remind you that blacks and other minorities constitute a major portion of consumers who patronize Colonial Bel Air Mall," chapter president Lettie Malone wrote in a Dec. 5 letter to Nolan.

"They should not be embarrassed or made to feel uncomfortable by those who are still fighting and trying to revive a war that never should have been a part of our civilized society."

The state president of the NAACP, the Rev. R.L. Shanklin, said the group never had plans for a boycott, and that he would have to approve any boycott carried out by the organization.

Nevertheless, Nolan said the mall was in an "emotionally charged controversy that we didn't want to be in the middle of."

"There was going to be no easy decision," he told the Mobile Register. "Certainly customers are disappointed that we took them out. Customers would have been disappointed had we left them in."

Asked whether he thought his clothing was offensive, Dixie Outfitters owner Dewey Barber said, "We certainly don't put any designs out there that we feel are offensive to anyone."

Dixie Outfitters' Web site has links and news stories about the Battle Flag, and in a section called "Our Mission" it states:

"The truth about the Confederate Flag is that it has nothing to do with racism or hate. The Civil War was not fought over slavery or racism. We at Dixie Outfitters are trying to tell the real truth via our art and products in regards to the Confederate Flag."

Ben George, head of a local Sons of Confederate Veterans camp, said he was considering a protest against the eviction.

[aomagrat]

It won't be long now until some liberal judge declares the Confederate flag "hate speech" and ordered it banned. Just like the liberal judges have banned the cross.

[Chancellor Palpatine]

Comparing men who fought for the Confederacy with Osama is wrong. OBL as a non citizen wasn't a traitor to the US, and at least has that going for him.

[Chancellor Palpatine]

You know - I just realized something. There is a great comparison between Islamofascism and Confederate fascism - at their core, they wanted the US to leave them alone so that they could enslave their fellow human beings in body and spirit. At least OBL wasn't a traitor.

;D

...and in related news, pharmaceutical shares rose substantially due to radically increasing sales of blood pressure medication in several Southern states....

[foreverfree]

bump

[Quilla]

Your comments can be characterized as a pap smear.

[abishai]

Do you feel the same way about George Washington, Charles Lee, John Adams, et al? Or are they different because they actually won in their cause with help from another country?

[Maelstrom]

About that post...

...what an idiot. I don't know where to begin...so I'm going to bet that it's merely a troll and not waste bandwidth.

[reg45]

"May I remind you that blacks and other minorities constitute a major portion of consumers who patronize Colonial Bel Air Mall"

That does not compute!

[Maelstrom]

Good for you.

You've moved me from disinterest into supporting this company financially, whenever I find them, outside the mall.

Racial politics can really kick you and yours in the ass when you don't know what the hell you're talking about.

[Maelstrom]

He feel that way about anyone who opposes the almighty power of the tyrannical state...

...or even those just opposing an agenda that would create one.

[Bluntpoint]

I am all for freedom of speech. That said, my personal experience here, in SE Indiana, with anyone flying these flags, bumper stickers, etc, has been that they are all big time racists. I am talking, to a person. They seem to like to refer to blacks as "Gars."

Again, before I am flamed, this is just my personal experience.

That said. Let freedom ring.

[Chancellor Palpatine]

You're right. My experience with anyone flying that rag is the same. It might be OK for burning or lining the septic tank, but thats about it.

[Bluntpoint]

Have you noticed that most of have bumpers stickers like:

"Dodge trucks, they eat Chevys and shit Fords."

Pretty impressive crowd.

[Chancellor Palpatine]

The winners always write the history. To the King and to the British, they were traitors - in violation of their oaths.

I'm glad they won, though. I hate hot tea and scones and think Prince Chuck is a fop.

[Chancellor Palpatine]

Heheh - along with that stupid window sticker of Calvin peeing on a Ford emblem.

[Non-Sequitur]

Madness. Sheer, bloody madness.

[AvgWhiteMale]

About as impressive as you and your "facny boy" friends.

[Bluntpoint]

I think you are projecting, Mr. AvgWhiteMale. Maybe if you were not so average, you would have better luck with the ladies.

Please, do not give up on the "fairer sex" to easily.

If it helps, get your lady friend to gargle with Pabst and to wear Old Spice. It might help with the transition.

[chance33_98]

I find anything with Malcolm X on it to be offensive and hatefilled.

[Bluntpoint]

Me to. That said, let freedom ring.