White Police Officers or ex Police Officers, as well as the protests around the world, calling for systemic change in a koning for the simple symbols of White Supremacy, many of which relate to the civil war era. Had thisve already conversation, five years ago in fact. Think back to where you were in the summer of 2015. Vernon and ed now, you graciously gave us your time back then, and we spoke in the wake of a Confederate Flag being taken down in South Carolina, following the murder of nine parishioners at southern annual church in charleston at that time. Edna, i would like to start with you. One of the things he said in 2015 was you were encouraged by the change and the flight coming down, its indra. Movementi think this we are seeing at the moment, at the moment, im afraid it is not permanent. You continued as im afraid that it is the right thing to do because the shooting was so horrific but we will forget and go back to where we were, the underlying issue. I would like to start b
In the ways memorializing Founding Fathers difference from differs from confederates. President lincolns cottage in washington, d. C. , provided the video. Tonight is not unique in that we will be focusing on preconceptions on memorials, but it is unique in that it is not just a conversation in response to recent events, both the killing of unarmed black citizens by mostly White Police Officers or ex Police Officer as well as the protests across the country and around the world, which have called for both systemic change and a reckoning for the symbols, monuments, memorials and flags of white supremacy. Many of which relate to the civil war era. What makes our conversation tonight also different is that weve already had it. Five years ago, in fact. I want you to all think back to think about where you were in the summer of 2015, vergne and edna you gave us your time back then and you spoke in the rake of the Confederate Flag being taken down following the murder of nine parishioners at
Talk but it is unique in that this is not just a conversation response to recent events, both the killing of unarmed black citizens by mostly White Police Officers or expolice officers, as well as the protests across the country and around the world that have called for systemic change and a reckoning for the monuments memorials and flakes of White Supremacy, many of which relate to the war era what makes our conversation different is we have already had a. Five years ago. I want you to think back to where you were in the some of 2015. Us yournd edna you gave time back then and you spoke in the wake of a flutter at flag intake down at the stake at house a Confederate Flag being taken down at a steakhouse in north carolina. At a state house in north carolina. One of the things you said in 2015 was that you were encouraged by the change in the flag coming down etc. , but you i i think this movement but i am afraid it is not parliament not permanent. Im afraid people thought it was the ri
We can do that ourselves. We can govern ourselves. And we can do it without trying to cut each others throats. Nothing would please some groups, like the Klu Klux Klan sorry mr. Pitts. Your first time has expired. Granted another two minutes. Nothing would please some groups like the Klu Klux Klan or the black panthers than nothing more for us to start fighting with each other. Than they get exactly what they want. This get strife. A group of pastors came together and asked the black panthers to leave. And i appreciated that. And ill take this opportunity. The klans not here yet. Ill ask them to stay out of South Carolina. We dont need either one of these two groups here. [ applause ] we dont need those two groups here trying to divide us and get us to fight amongst ourselves. Going back to that flag being offensive to some of my brothers and sisters in here. The words of lewis farrakon offended me, calling for the death of my grandchildren, which is basically what he did. And that gro
Im sure each of our colleagues has about the same. And do you know that a good portion of those are the people saying, why dont you give us a vote . Sure. Do you further know that if we had a referendum, and let the people speak that if the people spoke and decided to take the flag down, that i would vote to take the flag down. I did know that because you told me that earlier and i would do the same. And did you further know that if the people spoke and said leave the flag up, i would vote like i my heart tells me to leave the flag up. Yes, sir. Having said all that, you know, we have a choice to make. We got our districts to represent. In my district its overwhelmingly, do you know, they want the flag left up. They want their an sesters and their heritage honored and they most of all want their veterans honored. Yes, sir. And did you know that in may of 1958 that general and then president eisenhower signed into law to make the confederate veterans equal to all the other veteran group