Find solution to racist symbols (GA)

[struggle4progress]

By Vincent Fort

... Those who disagree with Georgia sponsoring Confederate symbols on state property do not want to abridge anyone’s First Amendment right to honor their “heritage.” If any Georgians want to enshrine the memories of their ancestors on their private property as they see fit, that is their right.

What is debatable is whether traitors, slave owners and defenders of slavery ought to be enshrined on public property with public dollars. In addition, there has been an emphasis on the impracticality of removing the carvings from the mountain. Civil rights activists understand removing the carvings is an unwieldy proposition ...

I am drafting a bill to introduce in the 2016 legislative session that will eliminate the state’s use of Confederate symbols. It would remove Confederate street and plaza names at Stone Mountain Memorial Park. It would also eliminate SCV’s right to a license plate and remove Confederate symbols from the state Capitol ...

http://atlantaforward.blog.ajc.com/2015/10/28/find-solution-to-racist-symbols/

[struggle4progress]

1. Carve new Stone Mountain legacy

October 28, 2015
By Hank Johnson

... I understand and respect the NAACP, the civil rights community and Confederate enthusiasts for their opposition to a King memorial at Stone Mountain. But as the congressman who represents the district around the famous mountain, I take the larger view.

What better way to symbolize such a legacy than to etch onto Stone Mountain a lasting memorial to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., which would coexist with symbols of the Confederacy defeated in part by the movement he led? A memorial to King would be a fitting tribute to the progress this state and nation have made towards the achievement of “The Dream,” and it would help boost park attendance ...

When I attended the Confederate flag rally at Stone Mountain this summer, I went to see for myself how many people would show up to support what I’ve always seen as a symbol of racism and hate. People I met and spoke with challenged me to have a deeper understanding of those who think differently than I do, and reinforced for me that we need to continue to work to reach common ground.

A memorial to Dr. King that gives visitors a fuller picture of our story is not just the right thing to do, but gets us closer to that common ground of understanding. Freedom rings from Stone Mountain! It’s time for all to see and hear the Bell of Liberty at a Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. monument atop Stone Mountain.

http://atlantaforward.blog.ajc.com/2015/10/28/carve-new-stone-mountain-legacy/