NAACP Chapter Opposes Civil War Reenactment

Lake Charles American Press | 16 Feb 2003 | Shawn Martin

[Rebeleye]

The Beauregard-Vernon NAACP on Thursday formally denounced an upcoming Civil War re-enactment. The local chapter cited racism and hatred as its reasons for opposition. The Rev. James Piper was the chief spokesman during the meeting Thursday. About 20 people attended. "I have checked, and the NAACP is against reenactments nationwide," he said...Piper said his group is against anything that "brings disharmony" and that "disrupts social and civil peace."

[Rebeleye]

DERIDDER -- The Beauregard-Vernon NAACP on Thursday formally denounced an upcoming Civil War re-enactment. The local chapter cited racism and hatred as its reasons for opposition. Members agreed there's nothing they can do to stop this year's event,but pledged to work together to stop next year's reenactment.

The Battle of Hickory Creek is a fictional Civil War battle loosely based on the massive overland invasion of western Louisiana in the fall of 1863. The Rev. James Piper was the chief spokesman during the meeting Thursday. About 20 people attended. "I have checked, and the NAACP is against reenactments nationwide," he said. "It was excommunicated from Merryville, and now it is about to happen in DeRIDDER." Piper said his group is against anything that "brings disharmony" and that "disrupts social and civil peace." Tommie Willis, a chapter officer, said she's appalled that schoolchildren from around the area will be bused in for the event. On Friday, Feb. 23, there will be a living history exhibit for students. The reenactment is being hosted Feb, 24-25 by Sons of Confederate Veterans Jesse M. Cooper Camp 1665 and the Emma Sansom Chapter of the Order of the Confederate Rose. It's being held on a 120-acre tract that belongs to Helen Lee and her son, Jimmy. It's located just outside of DeRidder's corporate limits. A similar reenactment had been held in Merryville for the past 13 years but was discontinued due to lack of adequate space. This is not the first time complaints of racism have surfaced surrounding Civil War reenactments. Local organizers however have repeatedly said they are not promoting racism, only preserving their historical heritage. Piper said the Confederate Battle Flag is a racist symbol and many who honor it are also racists. On the national level, the NAACP has opposed the flag. It has stated that it is a "primary symbol" for white supremacists and is an "affront to a majority of America." Not all those attending opposed the reenactment. Carl Allen said he does not like the flag or the reenactment, but supports the rights of those who do like it. "In America we can express ourselves," he said. "I don't accept that flag or what it stands for. We did not oppose this when it was across the street in Merryville but now that it's in our back yard, we want to vote our opposition." Local chapter president, the Rev. Fred Ross, said that the reenactment will not help the black population or community. He and Piperurged those at the meeting to be united in their opposition. Others said the problems in DeRidder go far beyond a flag or reenactment. An impassioned Charles Butler said he had suffered racism and lost his job with the City of DeRidder's Public Works Department for standing against it. He said he could not "sit still for something that represents racism Others said they don't like the reenactment being held in February, a month set aside for black history.

[Arkinsaw]

Nut jobs. Total nut jobs.

[dalebert]

This is silly. What good does it do anyone to attempt to erase the history of this country. I offended that anyone would take my freedom and rights away today just as they claim to be offended over the rights of their ancestors. Thought we fought wars to protect us from this.

[dalebert]

correction:I am offended

[Ciexyz]

This is distressing to read. The NAACP is being intolerant of the right of others to honor their own history.

We should raise a toast to the memory of all those brave soldiers on both sides of that terrible conflict.

[tet68]

Others said they don't like the reenactment being held in February, a month set aside for black history.

Set aside for black history?

SET ASIDE FOR BLACK HISTORY?

Damn I'm tired of this.

Go reenactors!

[IronJack]

Piper said his group is against anything that "brings disharmony" and that "disrupts social and civil peace."

Yeah, ask AL Sharpton about his march through Bensonhurst. Or Jesse Jackson about the Decatur Four. The "civil rights community" LIVES to disrupt social and civil peace.

[Ciexyz]

Others said they don't like the reenactment being held in February, a month set aside for Black History.

Oh, well then! We should also cancel Valentine's Day and President's Day. Cancel anything that doesn't have a connection to "Black History Month".(/sarcasm)

And let's throw out history prior to the Civil Rights era. Repeat after me: "America is racist, Only Black sensibilities matter. Black, black, black, black, black, black. (more /sarcasm)

[John H K]

The Beauregard-Vernon NAACP

Has this NAACP chapter even checked into its own name?

[templar]

..Piper said his group is against anything that "brings disharmony" and that "disrupts social and civil peace."

I suppose this means they would have opposed the Emancipation Proclamation had they been around in the mid 1800's?

[LoneRangerMassachusetts]

Piper said his group is against anything that "brings disharmony" and that "disrupts social and civil peace."

Such as black protest marches, welfare rights, phony claims for reparations, and so on? Screw the NAACP, the Negros of America for the Advancement of the Communist Party .

[mass55th]

" The NAACP is being intolerant of the right of others to honor their own history."

The NAALCP, the liberal left, and the Democratic party are intolerant of everything!

[dix]

Truly beautiful! Wasn’t Beauregard a Civil War General? Silly Negroes.

[Arm_Bears]

"The local chapter cited racism and hatred as its reasons for opposition."

I notice that ignorance and naivete got left out.

[jrd]

We need to say every time they bring this up that their freedom was paid in full with the blood of 620,000 men who died in the civil war!

[Steve_Seattle]

"his group [the NAACP] is against anything that promotes disharmony"

Then the NAACP should disband and Jesse Jackson should go into exile; they are about as disharmonious as it gets.

[ezone]

ignorance of history dooms us to repeat the same mistakes . an exhibition of history should offend no one , a repeat of history ....

[dalebert]

First rate reply ezone.

[let us cross over the river]

We were at a re-enactment of the Battle of Aiken (SC) on Sunday and there were no protestors. Just a bunch of white folks pretending to kill each other. btw the South won ( as they do every year)

[Rose in RoseBear]

Heavy sigh ping.

[LibKill]

I have checked, and the NAACP is against reenactments nationwide

Why? Are they afraid that the South will win now that there are no bullets in any of the weapons? :)

[MichiganConservative]

This whole attitude of "let's forget history and destroy everything connected with it" is quite distressing. It's much like European countries that outlaw anything connected to Nazis. How are we supposed to avoid the mistakes of the past if we cannot publicly remember the past? Oh yeah, the idea of learning from the past is passe when we can learn all we need from the State.

[catfish1957]

OMG!!!!!

I posted an article about the same exact reenactment a year ago. Damn they are persistent

[mhking]

Just damn.

Black conservative ping

If you want on (or off) of my black conservative ping list, please let me know via FREEPmail. (And no, you don't have to be black to be on the list!)

Extra warning: this is a high-volume ping list.

[eddie willers]

Cowboys and Indians will be next.

[stainlessbanner]

Those of you that are re-enactors, I would like to hear from.

[stainlessbanner]

Here's what re-enactors do: 2 Union Soldiers Honored

[oyez]

If reenactments were racist the South would win every battle.

This is none of the NAACP's business.

[Centurion2000]

The Beauregard-Vernon NAACP on Thursday formally denounced an upcoming Civil War re-enactment

If they don't like it ... tell them to meet the re-enactors on the field of battle. Otherwise they need to shut up and quit whining.

[Centurion2000]

Black conservative ping

Do these guys and the Nation of Islam embarrass you guys like the KKK and White Aryan Resistence embarrass white people ?

[Constitution Day]

Thanks for the ping, SB. Absolutely ludicrous.

I'm sure some on FR will applaud it.
To some of the more impressionable quackspeakers on this forum, we're all "flaggots".

CD

[stainlessbanner]

I really saddens my heart that the NAACP would destroy American history like this. The re-enactors I know are honorable men and women who take great pride in their work, studying the period and meticulously dressing/acting the part.

They often put much of their own money into re-enacting (think cavalry, cannon, etc.) to show an honorable display. I see more and more black re-enactors, too. One of my favorites in a recent battle was a great cavalry officer!

Children and families can walk thru the camps and learn from the re-enactors, a real living history experience. It's a shame these revisionists would shutdown another wholesome family activity centered around education and history.

[Constitution Day]

Your comments are 'spot on'.
Sorry to post and run, but the meds I am on for my back are knocking me out.

I'll check back tomorrow.

[visualops]

"The local chapter cited racism and hatred as its reasons for opposition"

That is correct, it's their racism and hatred that leads them to oppose anything they didn't think up themselves.

[oyez]

Reenactors have a right of assembly as guarinteed by the constitution. The NAACP can go pound sand.

[I_be_tc]

Every time I hear that people want to hide history, like this and the plaque over the water fountain, it makes me think that if the Blacks continue to erase this history, then it is going to be like the Holocaust(sp). There are so many people today that insist it never happened. I have a college grad nephew who did not know Schindler's List was based on a true story. He knew nothing about it.

Do people not believe that maybe in 30 or 40 years, other people are going to insist there was no slavery. If we continue to hide the confederate flag and everything else, can we say there was no Civil War? I think the NAACP better start thinking. Good or bad, it is history.

TC

[FireTrack]

One of the largest Confederate Depots was on the property of a Carroll Jones, a black plantation owner just north of Vernon Parish where some the real battles took place.

Most of the action took place during the Red River Campaign towards the later part of the war. The Union army suffered a humiliating defeat against a force a fourth its size.

[4CJ]

I'm not a re-enactor (YET) but the NAACLP can politely "Kiss my grits".

[BenLurkin]

"The local chapter cited racism and hatred as its reasons for opposition."

This sounds like the NAACP's admission to me. Their racism and their hatred.

[vetvetdoug]

The NAACP is racist. The name, NAACP, alone exudes racism. Black History Month is racist. When will people wake up and tell these race baiters to micturate up a rope.

I have done impressions as a Russian Cossack 1814, French currasier 1814, 1846 Mounted Rifleman, 1846 Dragoon, 1860, 1863, & 1874 Federal Cavalry, Confederate Cavalry 1861-1865, Federal Mounted Artillery 1859-1865, and Mexican War Mounted Artillery. The number of blacks that attended all of the demonstrations that I have participated in would probably be a hundred out of 100,000. Most blacks belonging to the NAACP don't really give a damn about American History. I served with General Daniel James and when I ask most blacks who he was they haven't a clue. A radio station in Florence, Alabama once asked a trivia question about General James and after two hours of no answers I called in and gave them the answer. History means nothing to the NAACP, causing trouble and grandstanding headlines does.

[lentulusgracchus]

Has this NAACP chapter even checked into its own name?

Beauregard Parish (county) was carved out of the 19th-century Imperial Calcasieu Parish, which comprised what are now Cameron, Calcasieu, and Beauregard Parishes, and perhaps pieces of some others. It was named, obviously, after General Pierre G. T. Beauregard, who is still among Louisiana's most famous sons.

This is more spite and bloody-shirt politics, aimed at chumming up the vote next year.

In Houston, the part of Calhoun Street in downtown was renamed immediately when Mayor Lee P. Brown took office.

The high schools are having their names and team names changed, too -- such as Robert E. Lee. Imported Yankee teachers steeped in NEA liberalism are leading the charge to purge the South of references to Southern history.

[STONEWALLS]

"In Houston, the part of Calhoun Street in downtown was renamed immediately when Mayor Lee P. Brown took office."

Albert Sydney Johnston middle school in Houston has had it's name changed

.....and BTW several years ago the NAACP protested when "Schlindler's List" was shown on TV in February.....they protested that a Holacost themed movie was presented during "their" history month....there's just no pleasing some folks....

Good luck to everyone!

Stonewalls

[SCDogPapa]

"paid in full with the blood of 620,000 men"

VERY GOOD POINT!!!!!!!!!!

[Constitution Day]

SB...

Yes, I know some re-enactors well, and all are fine people.
The only reason I haven't gotten involved in it yet is a lack of time.

What this is really about is who controls history and its interpretation.
We have to be vigilant.

[norton]

I cought that also...
Wondering if their next demand will be to rename "Beauregard" to something that does not "bring disharmony" (or) "disrupt social and civil peace."
Something like the "Evil oppressor of the nice people"-Vernon chapter.

[Bogey78O]

In Slidell, Louisiana after having remodeled the old train station they put up a bust of John Slidell. It was met with several protests because he was a Confederate official.

Now imagine that. It's racist to put up a bust of John Slidell in Slidell, La.

[billhilly]

Daniel "Chappie" James was the real article. A four star Air Force General who served as vice Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force. As a colonel, he was a wing commander in Vietnam.

[aomagrat]

Next the NAACP will demand the color white be removed from all paint stores, and the direction south be removed from the compass.