Abrams calls for removal of Confederate faces off Stone Mountain
Democratic gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams called for the removal of the giant carving that depicts three Confederate war leaders on the face of state-owned Stone Mountain, saying it “remains a blight on our state and should be removed.”
“We must never celebrate those who defended slavery and tried to destroy the union,” Abrams said in a series of tweets posted early Tuesday, a response to the deadly violence sparked by white supremacist groups in Charlottesville, Va.
Removing the faces of Jefferson Davis, Robert E. Lee and Stonewall Jackson would take a monster of a sandblaster and require a change in state law. The Georgia code has a clear mandate for the memorial, saying it should be “preserved and protected for all time as a tribute to the bravery and heroism of the citizens of this state who suffered and died in their cause.”
Lawmakers and civil rights groups have called for the removal of Confederate symbols at the memorial for years. After the 2015 shooting deaths of nine black worshipers by a white supremacist in Charleston, several legislators pushed for a boycott until Rebel flags at the site come down.
Georgia leaders have embraced recent changes to distance the state from its Rebel history.
Gov. Nathan Deal quietly struck Confederate Memorial Day from the state’s official holiday calendar and removed the statue of a segregationist leader from the state grounds. State-issued license plates featuring the Rebel emblem have been altered, though only slightly. Statues and paintings of Confederate leaders in the statehouse are facing fresh criticism. And the state is set to unveil a statue of Martin Luther King Jr. outside the Capitol this month.
Abrams faces state Rep. Stacey Evans in next year’s Democratic primary, and the race has quickly turned testy. She has faced criticism for refusing to rebuke protesters who chanted “support black women” at Evans at a progressive conference over the weekend.
Four high-profile Republicans are in the race, and several were critical of her stance. Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle said the state has taken “great strides” to add exhibits that give a more inclusive view of the Civil War.
“Instead of dividing Georgians with inflammatory rhetoric for political gain,” he said, “we should work together to add to our history, not take from it.”
More: After Charlottesville, a fresh look at Atlanta’s Confederate symbols
More: Stacey Evans: An argument for ‘accurate’ history at Stone Mountain
Here is Abrams’ full Twitter string:
The removal of the bas relief of Confederates from Stone Mountain has been a constant debate since the state bought the property in 1958. /1
— Stacey Abrams (@staceyabrams) August 15, 2017
Paid for by founders of the 2nd KKK, the monument had no purpose other than celebration of racism, terror & division when carved in 1915. /2
— Stacey Abrams (@staceyabrams) August 15, 2017
We must never celebrate those who defended slavery and tried to destroy the Union. /3
— Stacey Abrams (@staceyabrams) August 15, 2017
Confederate monuments belong in museums where we can study and reflect on that terrible history, not in places of honor across our state. /4
— Stacey Abrams (@staceyabrams) August 15, 2017
The managers of Stone Mountain have taken steps to educate w a powerful audio tour to return the listener to the horrors of slavery. /5
— Stacey Abrams (@staceyabrams) August 15, 2017
But the visible image of Stone Mountain's edifice remains a blight on our state and should be removed. /6
— Stacey Abrams (@staceyabrams) August 15, 2017
State leg led by the Georgia Legislative Black Caucus have pushed for action for decades. I supported action then & I renew calls now. /7
— Stacey Abrams (@staceyabrams) August 15, 2017
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View Comments 73
These BLOWFLAKES that elect clowns like this racist abrams. Are the same retards that put people in office like Landreui in New Orleans. That clown floods them out and they still get on their knees for that kneepad wearing clown
Stacy Abrams belongs in a museum ..... Everything she is saying ... points in her direction that she is a racist ... but I bet she has no problem taking other races hard earn money through taxes as a paycheck..... if I was her id be more concerned about road repairs health care are etc. then trying to incite a Race War.. SnowFlake.
@Rebel Jo Sorry, Rebel, a white wing racist is much worse than Representative Abrams. No one is going to start a race war but ignorant white wing racists.
The rotten fruit of LBJ's (not so) Great Society can be witnessed in every metropolis, city, town and village across the looted plain..
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Al Sharpton is a JOKE he just confirmed what President Trump was saying about whats next Washington and Jefferson.....What a freakn idiot Ill throw a party when the grim reaper finally takes this clown
It's time to take down ALL black monuments, road signs,street names, and END, February black history mouth. What's fair is fair. And don't give me the crap that the south was braking the law and traitors. MLK was breaking the laws back in the 60s. Along with all the others who were with them. So why in hell should we honor them.
@Clayton1972 I've heard crud like that from a lot of ignorant white wing racists, too many actually.
There's NO ONE more racists than the blacks in the U.S. And it gotten worse when The monkey Obama got in the white house and disgraced this great country.
@Clayton1972 Poor pitiful ignorant white wingers. I feel so sorry for your plight. Obama was a damn fine Prez, he even gave a darn about lightly educated racists.
@woodycta102 don't worry, Trump is gonna fix everything monkey obama bin Laden screwed up in this country. He's gonna MAKE AMERICAN GREAT AGAIN. Pre. (1960s)
@Clayton1972 What you guys want is for him to Make America White Again. Ain't gonna happen.
Never say Never.. Y'all had your token. And he made a mess of everything. Time for the white man to clean things up again. So, get over your self. And maybe just maybe. We won't put you on a boat and send you back..
JUST CHECK U.S. PUBLIC LAW 85-425
Confederate soldiers ,sailors, and Marines that fought in the Civil war were made U.S. Veterans by an act of Congress in in 1957, U.S. Public Law 85-425, Sec 410, Approved 23 May, 1958. This made all Confederate Army/ Navy/ Marine Veterans equal to U.S. Veterans. Additionally, under U.S. Public Law 810, Approved by the 17th Congress on 26 Feb 1929 the War Department was directed to erect headstones and recognize Confederate grave sites as U.S. War dead grave sites. Just for the record the last Confederate veteran died in 1958. So, in essence, when you remove a Confederate statue, monument or headstone, you are in fact, removing a statue, monument or head stone of a U.S. VETERAN.
@woodycta102 I agree with listing BLM as a Hate Group after police in Dallas and Baton Rouge were killed by BLM Murderer
@Rebel Jo @woodycta102 I agree with calling the white winger named "Rebel Jo" an ignorant racist.
@woodycta102 @Rebel Jo Far from being Racist Snowflake! I'm Army Combat Veteran that recognizes American Veterans just like Union Veteran of that time are my brothers in arms so are Confederate Veteran I fought for everyones rights to free speech and religion and everything in between ...unlike your couch sitting snowflake A hole
Confederate soldiers ,sailors, and Marines that fought in the Civil war were made U.S. Veterans by an act of Congress in in 1957, U.S. Public Law 85-425, Sec 410, Approved 23 May, 1958. This made all Confederate Army/ Navy/ Marine Veterans equal to U.S. Veterans. Additionally, under U.S. Public Law 810, Approved by the 17th Congress on 26 Feb 1929 the War Department was directed to erect headstones and recognize Confederate grave sites as U.S. War dead grave sites. Just for the record the last Confederate veteran died in 1958. So, in essence, when you remove a Confederate statue, monument or headstone, you are in fact, removing a statue, monument or head stone of a U.S. VETERAN.
@Rebel Jo @woodycta102 Reb, Vietnamese and Iraqis were not a threat to us. That's utter BS unless you fought in WWII.
This mountain represents hatred of ALL people who are not white males, it is a mountain which has been tainted and corrupted by WHITE SUPREMACY and it has been corrupted for more than a century now...It must be cleansed. It must be cleansed of hatred and of white supremacy. May the warriors of love tolerance and diversity chizel that evil carving off the mountain with their own hands if need be if the authorities wont do it!! That mountain should be cleansed and in its place a sculpture of Harrier Tubman should be carved, and the mountain renamed to FREEDOM MOUNTAIN or DIVERSITY MOUNTAIN.
NO hate.
NO fear.
@Marcus Olevio I guess your ready to start burning books and crosses next ,,,Your no better than ISIS destroyer of everyone elses heritage other than yours ...Its MERICA Freedom to have your own and my Freedoms mine... I think NIKE already coined the phrase NO FEAR ..... u might have a copy right issue there.
@Rebel Jo @Marcus Olevio The crosses burned were often on top that mountain at rallyies by the family that started the KKK in Georgia and aided commission of the carving commemorating three slave owners, traitors and losers.
Of course there is much emotion regarding this subject and much misinformation and lack of knowledge of the US flag, and US history as well.
While considering the removal of the Confederate statues and the like also consider removing the flag of the United States; Stars and Bars. Slavery began under the flag of the United States, throughout the U.S. slave history including prior, during, and after the Civil War slavery was under the flag of the United States. Our US government in Washington at the time legally promulgated slavery setting up slave states, again under the flag of the United States; read the Missouri Compromise of 1820. As you can see, the flag of the United States is infinitely more complicit, culpable, and libel for slavery than the Battle Flag of the Confederacy, and any statues. Removal of one should rightfully remove the other.
Should we also remove the Washington memorial, Lincoln memorial, Mount Vernon, Monticello, and the like; remember they all owned slaves. Are you willing to change your surnames that came from slave owners from over 150 years ago?
Remember since the 15 century the US Government promulgated slavery. Slave states were first setup in the North. Read the historical documents about the inner workings in our Washington government and how they instituted, protected, slavery. Folks, it was the North that began the slave trade, not the South. Read about US History, do not take the word of folks that have an agenda, most of what is said by talking-heads, and taught in our schools are blatantly incorrect. By doing your own study it will shock you the lies you have been taught.
Another point is the Civil War was not over slavery, the South was paying over 80% of the tariffs to the federal government while the North paid only 20%. The US Government was usurping the 10th amendment to the constitution of the USA. The South was being railroaded by the industrial North, the South wanted out. READ READ READ, do not get pulled in by the folks that know nothing about our US history, and that only deal in emotion.
As a country we value free speech. We are now seeing free speech only applies to people that believe the same as you. When folks differ there becomes a concerted effort to squash free speech at all cost; thus displaying hatred.
@Bubba Jones the old Hate has NO place in America! And there is no reason to honor racist white supremacist traitors like the confederates, other than to champion white supremacy and that is NOT ok.
NO hate NO fear.
It is beginning to sound like ISIS and their destruction of Palmyra along with the Taliban's destruction of the Buddas in Afghanistan.
@HillbillyVol Do you consider Confederate personas part of your spiritual and religious beliefs?
Bewildered 2---I am 66 years old and have never seen stone mountain but I would like to some day. It looks like a beautiful piece of art work. I would never see racism when I view it. I don't agree with tearing down all these statues. I am fed up with the way society picks an object out to fight when there is an issue and it usually has nothing to do with the real issues. You should be attacking the person who perpetuates racism, for example, President Trump, but because you don't have the guts to do that you pick some inanimate object and then get on your high horse and pretend you are stamping out injustice. While there is a black child in a poor neighborhood dealing with the disadvantages of not being able to live to his or her potential, you are busy trying to knock down a statue. I am what you would consider a liberal and I feel this way. If those people on the right who are trying to make this a left or right issue would shut up. Maybe they would stop removing statues.
@Monica Blommer "...You should be attacking the person who perpetuates racism, for example, President Trump..." he is not perpetuation racism. He said both sides were at fault.
Do recall the White Nationals obtained the legal permits to hold their rally. If you disagree with their rally and why they were holding it that is okay. It was the folks that came and disrupted that peaceful rally that caused the chaos; thus displaying hatred that they say they want to stop. President Trump said "all sides were at fault", certainly that is not racism that is a fact of what occurred.
@Bubba Jones the old @Monica Blommer If Trump were brought up on charges of rent discrimination, you wouldn't believe it. Yet, he has. Trump is a bigot.
I am from the northern plains and Caucasian. I am totally against this blanket removal of historical statuary confederate or not. For the Blacks does every and each statue of some confederate cause pain? Like it or not, the antebellum years existed and many do not want to forget. Yes folks suffered and many didn't. To me this is a rouge wipe out of history and not in favor. Then this idea of sandblasting Stone Mountain is outlandish. It is also art. This is like AG Ashcroft covering up statues of nude women in the Justice building because he was offended. Take a breath everyone. Next year will be a different cause. Leave it alone. Remember the Taliban blasting off the mountain the Buddha reliefs that were there for hundreds of years? Sad.
Ok...So, I was born in 1970 and have been going to Stone Mountain since I was a kid. I never associated the mountain, the bas relief or anything from the park with racism. I'm white. Only until recent happenings do I associate these monuments with racism. I'm beginning to feel as though racism exists primarily because some people can't move forward. I would continue to view these monuments without racist thought if it weren't for those who are proclaiming racism. It doesn't exist within me. It exists unto me.
Here is an interesting analogy - I tend to find graffiti offensive but I don't go around asking that all the railroad boxcars be demolished.
Live and let live people. Let the statues be what you want them to be. If you find them offensive then let them serve as a reminder of your fight. Take solace in the fact that the entire country has made significant reparations to you over the last 60 years. You can be whatever you want to be - bus driver, lawyer, senator - heck, even POTUS. If you have a close connection to the statues with your heritage then enjoy them and relish them. If you don't care either way then ignore them or admire their artistry. But get over yourselves either way if you feel you have to push your agenda down someone else's throat. I want my kids to go to Stone Mountain and enjoy the beauty that is the ENTIRE park and me not have to explain what that gaping blank spot is on the side of the mountain.
Here it is. Plain and simple -- if it offends you don't go to the park and I'll continue not working for the rail road.
@Bewildered1 Why should stone mountain only be for white males? Thats not America to expect Americans of color and women to either not go to Stone mountain and enjoy it or go there and be subjected to a huge display of hatred bigotry and intolerance, it is literally CHAINS of slavery and hate on the side of a mountain, put there by white supremacists! Thats not fair to Americans of color and women, so it must go! It must no question about it.
I'm from Michigan and have lived here for 47 years and this %&$# pisses me off!! Sick and darn tired of these whining left wing nuts! If we are going to erase the south's history than we also need to erase the North's history and absolutely destroy ALL MLK reminders, it ALL needs to go if this actually proceeds further!
@WolverineRules That's silly, we only want to get rid of symbols of hatred.Why does that bother you?
MLK is not a symbol of hatred to anyone but ignorant white wing racists.
Enough is enough!! If all of the confederate history is to be erased or anything associated with racism is to be erased from history then remove ALL historical monuments and I mean ALL of them from the Lincoln memorial down to all the MLK street signs. YES, MLK references to any site since this great man fought against racism, but that is the thing, racism seems to be the single theme of all the monuments. If you do not like them then just get rid of them, ERASE them. Will it stop there or will it continue to ERASE individuals as well?
I've seen this somewhere else. A group similar to the antiflag thugs and cowards. Yes, here it is:
Http
://www.cnn.com/2015/03/09/world/iraq-isis-heritage/index.html
"Those who forget the past, are doomed to repeat it" Edmund Burk
@Crusher AR15 I don't think anyone is going to forget the South's racist past and all the ignorant white wing racists who still live here.
my co worker's sister gets 77 every hour at home... go here to this page
>.<.><.><.>**www.profitdeed.com**><.><.><>.<Maybe it would be cheaper to add a caption to the thing, like carrving the word "TRAITORS" above their heads.
@charlesbalpha So what was America fight with England weren't they trying to start their own country that England was over? I'm sure England said same word as you snowflake Keep listening too Fake News and hippy lifestyle read a history book



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