Business group votes against Confederate emblem

Picayune Item ^ | 21 August 2002 | AP

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GULFPORT (AP) -- The Gulfport Business Club has adopted a resolution asking Harrison County supervisors to remove the Rebel flag from a public beach display.

Only a few of the about 100 members present Tuesday voted against the resolution.

The club's vote came one day after the Rev. Nelson B. Rivers III, the chief operating officer of the NAACP, vowed that the national civil rights organization will not back down until the Rebel flag comes down from the Eight Flags Display.

Harrison County supervisors have said they have no intentions of changing their decision to fly the flag.

The Gulfport Business Club's resolution asks supervisors to either fly the First National flag of the Confederacy or replace the Eight Flags display with American flags.

Gulfport City Councilman Billy Hewes and former Gulfport City Councilman Himbert Sinopoli, who attended the meeting, said the Rebel flag should fly because it represents area history.

"I've never viewed the Confederate flag as racist," Sinopoli said.

Other members said the flying of the Confederate battle emblem on public property sends the wrong message to the rest of the state and the country.

"Regardless of what we think of the flag, the rest of the country has a different view of it," Rodger Wilder said. "The experts agree that this is not the correct flag. This can lead some people to believe that we're sticking our fingers in the eyes of some people who live down here."

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I got your finger right here, Wilder.

[Commander8]

Hoorah for Dixie!!!

[Texas_Jarhead]

NAACP - racist race pimps and cultural fascists

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Let's Keep it Flying bump!

[sweetliberty]

So how long till the follow-up intimidation ploy? The businessmen are a bunch of brown-nosing pantywastes. Who the h*ll cares what the whiners don't like any more? I have long since lost any respect or sympathy for them or their manufactured causes since they obviously have no respect for what I hold dear.

[billbears]

Rev. Nelson B. Rivers III, the chief operating officer of the NAACP, vowed that the national civil rights organization will not back down until the Rebel flag the flag of these United States comes down from the Eight Flags Display and is replaced by the NAALCP flag and the UN flag.

Y'all yankees can joke about it all you want but when they take our flag, guess who they're going to be going after next!! Hey, I wonder if that guy's still there that said he wouldn't leave until it did come down?

[Terridan]

Keep the Stars and the Bars flying!!! What is this crap, and aren't these Naacp ass$&*es tired yet? The Confederate Flag is and important part of American History, so why don't they, Naacp, take up a fight against Farakhan, and Rev. Jesse? All of the monies they rip off of their poor oppressed brothers??? Jesus, save Dixie!!! (I was pissed when Ole Miss refused to continue flying it at games, but the fans didn't let me down!!!)

[stainlessbanner]

Anyone know which businesses are in the Gulfport Business Club? I searched for it online, but couldn't find anything. It would be interesting to know who the desenters (ie. CBF supporters) of the resolution were.

Any locals? Mississippians?

[Coeur de Lion]

I wouldn't give in purely on principle. If people of the Gulf Port area want to then that's fine. If the businesses can convince the people to do that, then that's fine too. If the NAACP mounts a boycott, that's fine too. Let them do that and let's see how the cards fall. If they're successful they'll get what they want, if not too bad. Giving in to this blackmail is something that has happened way too much and that's why it's become an abuse. If people, businesses etc. would stop caving in to these silly demands then those making the threats would have to come up with demands which most reasonable people would see some sense in (e.g. like blacks being allowed to eat at lunch counters). But if something like that was done it would most likely result the end of the NAACP's raison d'etre and all the other race pimps.

[wardaddy]

It's a lefty bullsh!te local business "club"....doesn't mean squat.....just more diversion from real "black issues".

[blam]

"Hey, I wonder if that guy's still there that said he wouldn't leave until it did come down?"

Yup. He's still there. I read in the Mobile Register today that he claims someone planted a snake near his stakeout spot.

[GVNR]

SCREW 'EM!!

This crap really p$$E$ me off!
Tell ya' what - since we might have offended the Germans and the Japanese in some "minor skirmishes" in the past, how about we'll just re-write history, put up statues showing one black, one hispanic, one white, one asian, and one nazi - all shaking hands and smiling at one-another...wait, that's five - that means ONE won't be shaking hands after all...uh-oh, what to do, what to do??..........maybe a little more rewriting?

BTW - Was the PC WTC memorial ever put up? (The one with the three firefighters of different heritages putting up the flag)

[lentulusgracchus]

So how long till the follow-up intimidation ploy?

You see from the businessmen's vote that not only has it been deployed, it's done its work. The man quoted as worrying about sticking fingers in people's eyes is dissembling. He's worrying about an NAACP-led, high-profile boycott. They all are.

As for people who think differently, these guys will just start firing people who get out of line on this. Any of those Harrison County officials who has someone in his family working for one of these guys will find out what a pink slip looks like. That's how it's played in Triple-A.

This is the play the NAACP has been making from the start, attacking the business community with the threat of bad publicity and decreased business. They can go on doing this forever, or until the influence of business money over local politics is nullified. So, guess when that will be?

[TomServo]

Regardless of what we think of the flag, the rest of the country has a different view of it," Rodger Wilder said.

Learn to quit groveling, Mr. Wilder. It's unbecoming.

[4CJ]

From the Mississippi Code, Section 97-7-39. Flags; desecration of national or state flag prohibited.

Any person ... who shall publicly mutilate, deface, defile or defy, trample upon or cast contempt , either by word or act, upon any such flag, standard, color or ensign, with the intent to desecrate or dishonor such, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and upon conviction shall be punished by a fine of not more than one thousand dollars ($1,000.00), or by imprisonment for not more than thirty (30) days, or both, in the discretion of the court; ... The words "flag," "standard," "color," or "ensign," as used in this section, shall include ... the flag, colors, standard or ensign of the United States of America or of the State of Mississippi or Confederate flag.

Far be it for me to suggest that they contact their local District Attorney or the Mississippi state Attorney General.

[CWRWinger]

...the Gulfport Business Club? I searched for it online, but couldn't find anything.

Maybe this group is a communist front, and was invented just for this media event? If this is a real group, they need to be Battle Flag picketed Labor Day weekend.

If this group has any petitions or business before the Harrison County Supervisors, it needs to be shelfed or postponed.

[aomagrat]

The club's vote came one day after the Rev. Nelson B. Rivers III, the chief operating officer of the NAACP, vowed that the national civil rights organization will not back down until the Rebel flag comes down from the Eight Flags Display.

Let them boycott! Thanks to the NAACP boycott of South Carolina, we're now one of the top 10 tourist destinations in the USA!

[stand watie]

"planted a snake near his stakeout spot"

ROTFL! they'll be VERY happy together, i predict.

free dixie,sw

[stand watie]

NOPE! and it was destroyed, on order of the mayor.

free dixie,sw