The Sons of Confederate Veterans have found themselves amid another battle to keep their official emblem displayed- this time, in the City of Reidsville in Tattnall County.
The City of Reidsville Tuesday removed the official Sons of Confederate Veterans emblem signs that denote the monthly meetings appearing on the four ‘Welcome to Reidsville!’ civic organization banners.
The decision came following voiced complaints from Reidsville City Councilman Curtis Colwell. Colwell voiced his concerns to Councilman Virgil Duckworth who oversees the roads and streets in the city. Duckworth allegedly called a city employee to order the removal of the signs Tuesday afternoon. Concerned, the city employee contacted Mayor Sydney Clifton who seconded the directive to remove the signs.
Photo: Jessica Szilagyi/AllOnGeorgia – May not be used without credit.
Commander of the Tattnall Invincibles Tommy Wallace, a chapter of the Sons of Confederate Veterans, said he didn’t even know anything about the controversy until his trip to work Wednesday morning where he saw the empty space where the sign used to be.
When he spoke with AllOnGeorgia Wednesday morning, Wallace said, “I’m upset because what’s right is right. Our emblem, which doesn’t even have a flag on it, is protected by federal patent law. We are a civic organization and it’s the same logo protected by the state for license plate tags.”
Wallace also mentioned that a group previously tried to have the emblem removed from the state license tags, but was unsuccessful.
“We are active in the community and we are all about preserving the history. We go to schools and talk to students, we travel around and we do reenactments for the community. We aren’t the Klan or the skinheads. We are all about history.”
The sign placements were approved by former Mayor Eddie Rewis and the past council. The signs are placed in the right of way on state highways, the hardware and signs are purchased by the civic organization, and the actual display sign that houses the smaller signs is owned by Rotary.
The position of the Tattnall chapter of the Sons of Confederate Veterans, the Tattnall Invincibles, per a legal team, is that the signs were under a verbal contract put in place by a council vote. As far as they’re concerned, the City of Reidsville is currently breaching that contract.
Some of the biggest pushback is stemming from the decision to remove the signs without a second vote by council or even a discussion of the issue. “They never called us. They didn’t tell us what they were doing, they just took them down. But the signs are our property,” Wallace said.
Megan Waters, a Reidsville citizen said, “This isn’t the first time that a complaint has been made about the signs. Just take them all down since they all represent some form or fashion of discrimination. Or for goodness sakes, at least have a meeting about it and allow it to be voted upon.”
Wallace and member Attriss Nail both spoke with Mayor Clifton Wednesday morning, who said he would speak with the City Attorney, Van Cheney, and report back by the end of the business day. Wallace said if the signs are not put back up, and the other civic organisational signs remain, the SCV will move forward with the help of the Georgia chapter of the Sons of Confederate Veterans and the legal team.
“We’re not bullies. We just want what’s right. And they’re discriminating against us by taking the signs down and leaving the others up.”
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Danny Todd
August 17, 2016 at 2:56 pm
I am so delighted that I am no longer a resident of Reidsville and it’s dysfunctional city council. Political Correctness at it’s finest.
danny flowers
August 17, 2016 at 3:13 pm
Im not a racist at all have alot of black. mexican.white friends.seems everyone else can be proud of their heritage but white people.
Minnie Rowell
August 17, 2016 at 7:16 pm
What is so hard to understand? What part of the Southern flag is considered racist? There is nothing racial whatsoever about this flag! This is our Southern heritage and people we had better stand up and speak up or risk everything the South fought for!
I get sick and tired of certain ones being catered to in this country even to the point of stripping away some of our rights; and what does the powers that be do? They cower down and go along all for the sake of political correctness!
There is truth in the song that says “you’d better stand for something or you’ll fall for anything.” Think on that!!!
Danette Laurent
August 17, 2016 at 10:54 pm
^^^^What exactly did the south fight for?? And you want to be proud of that?!? Sad sad dumb world we live in…
Scott Baker
August 17, 2016 at 11:21 pm
We fought for States Rights, Limiting the Power of the Federal Government, LImiting the Power of the President, Unfair and UnEven Taxation (South paid for 3/4 of the Federal Budget), Local Control. Same crap we are fighting for today. The VIctors write the history books, and you need to do some reading so you can see what the real causes of the War for Southern Independence were. The fact the history books call it a “Civil War” is just one example of the Victors writing the books. A civil war is one in which two side are trying to gain control of one government or country. The South wanted NOTHING to do with the North, merely wanted to go it’s own way, and the Tyrant LIncoln, couldn’t afford to let the South go. Look it all up for yourself….
Andrew Orphanoudakis
August 18, 2016 at 5:55 am
Excellent reply sir…DEO VINDICE!
Vicki Sikes
August 18, 2016 at 9:05 am
Read your history books …Did you not ever hear of our States Rights?
Greg pearson
August 17, 2016 at 7:25 pm
How bigoted can a government get? !? The SCV is a civic group just like other clubs. The SCV had members of all races and welcomes all southern heritage minded individuals. Only an uneducated or bigoted individual with an ulterior motive would come out against the SCV and it’s symbols. It is obvious from the comments of citizen Megan waters and others that there Reidsville government should work more on education rather than being discriminatory. Shame on Reidsville.
Ginny
August 17, 2016 at 7:57 pm
I think they need to contact a Civl Rights attorney. Civil Rights lawsuits against any government also requires the government to pay the attorney’s fees so finding a lawyer without a lot of up front money should be easy.
Patrick Price
August 17, 2016 at 8:22 pm
More ridiculousness, creating a problem where none exists. Either put the signs back up or take the others down!
Jerry K
August 17, 2016 at 10:39 pm
Sue the city and the mayor, if they want to play dirty, bring it on…
Wayne Willingham
August 17, 2016 at 11:03 pm
Unbelievable when the day would come that we are not able to honor and tell the truth of our Southern history without being lied about called racist and ignorant just because we want the truth to be told. Because I can assure you that we are either one we are just God fearing independent Southerners wishing to live freely.
Eve Davenport Holder
August 17, 2016 at 11:49 pm
If the SCV sign has to go, all the others have to go. You do to all groups what you did to the SCV.
You cannot single out one group over the others.
Happy
January 27, 2017 at 4:11 am
oh my gosh that is just AWFUL!! I hate these stupid viruses going around now..they do seriously try to wipe your family OUT! I know the lying around thing and my kids ALWAYS yell when they are done in the batw….hhat is WITH that?! lol. Get out and dry yourself then!! I’m lying here with the PLAGUE people!!Hope you are all better soon!!
Doc
August 18, 2016 at 10:50 am
Legal vandalism! Lions Club better watch out PETA might be after them.
Mark Buchanan
August 18, 2016 at 11:05 am
I will buy gas and groceries in a different city from now on.
Proud Damn Yankee!!
August 18, 2016 at 1:47 pm
At the end of it all,the South ran with their tails tucked. All the lost battles and surrendering to the North,what kind of pride is in that??? The war was based on industrial bigger business than the plantations,that the “good ol boys” couldn’t see, but bowed down in the end.
Dixon.B
August 18, 2016 at 5:15 pm
It’s time to rename all streets that are now MLK ,what fair for one is fair for all,so lets gets it all political correct.
Charles Lunsford
August 18, 2016 at 7:09 pm
SCV civic signs are up in many cities across the state and there’s no problem. Why did the local officials create a problem here?
Irene
January 27, 2017 at 2:50 am
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February 11, 2017 at 9:30 pm
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September 4, 2017 at 3:50 am
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gaylon tootle
August 19, 2016 at 9:39 am
To the victors go the spoils!! The confederacy was a group of ragtag traitors who were beaten into submission because of their treasonous behavior! ! There is NO glory in being a traitor, I. e, Benedict Arnold. And what does street names have to do with this? I think the city handled it wrong but wow, looks as if some folk from the trailer parks and their like minded cohorts were looking for a reason to spew racist, hateful as well as divisive rhetoric! ! Get over it guys, it’s 2016. YOU LOST!!! States Rights – code word for Racist.
Larry
August 24, 2016 at 9:39 am
We are good, proud Americans that want the bast for our country and are proud of our southern history. liberals and blacks want whites to eradicate their past and devote our lives to ensuring that transgender people can use whichever bathroom they wish, college students get free education, wealth be divided amongst all peoples, even the lazy bastards that have sat on their asses all their lives, allow felons and illegal immigrants voting rights, to release thousands of convicted felons from prisons, and sensitivity training for ‘white’ people from which there issues do not stem, and the continuance of billions on rebuilding and creating facilities for the undeserving in ghettos and areas destroyed by crime and riots. It is time that the sleeping giant arises. We need to start mass gatherings and show our feelings and demand that we get the respect that is given to the trash of this country.