Alabama Gov. Bentley removes Confederate flags from Capitol grounds

[dixiegrrrrl]

Not just the so called Rebel flag, but 3 other Confederate flags.

On the order of Gov. Robert Bentley, the Confederate battle flag which stands at the foot of the confederate memorial on the state Capitol grounds was taken down this morning.

Asked his reasons for taking it down and if it included what happened in Charleston last week, the governor said, "Yes, partially this is about that. This is the right thing to do. We are facing some major issues in this state regarding the budget and other matters that we need to deal with. This had the potential to become a major distraction as we go forward. I have taxes to raise, we have work to do. And it was my decision that the flag needed to come down."

After the battle flag – which is at the center of the controversy – was gone, workers began removing three other Civil War era flags.

They are the First National Confederate Flag, commonly preferred to as the "Stars and Bars;" the second flag is the Second National Confederate Flag, more commonly known as the "Stainless Banner;" and the last flag standing is the Third National Confederate Flag.

http://www.al.com/news/index.ssf/2015/06/confederate_flag_removed_from.html

[msongs]

1. "I have taxes to raise..." is this from the onion? a repub has taxes to raise? nt

[Elwood P Dowd]

6. Yes, he has been saying for months he will have to raise taxes to cover the deficit. (nm)

[CTyankee]

10. doubtless saving the wealthy, just taxing the poor and middle class...

[Elwood P Dowd]

11. He has a bunch of tea party idiots in the legislature, so you might be right.

The repuke speaker of the house was just indicted on about 12 felony counts, so who knows what that bunch will come up with.

[CTyankee]

13. well, that's typical of republicans, isn't it?

[frazzled]

2. They're tumbling down like the walls of Jericho

I know this is just symbolic, and that this type of racist belief will be driven underground. But the symbol, imho, is important: no one, not even Southern Republicans, wants to be associated with this hatred anymore. No more can the specter of racial hatred and white superiority be expressed in public. That's big. That's a beginning.

It's been a long time coming. But a change is gonna come.

[dixiegrrrrl]

3. And it took both an election season and the sacrifice of 9 souls to do it.

Much as the Birmingham church bombing and the souls of 4 little girls led to significant change in 1963.

[Spazito]

7. This song brings tears to my eyes every time I hear it...

I hadn't seen this version, the visuals are so powerful. Thank you for posting this.

RIP Sam Cook, your song is a song for the ages.

[malaise]

12. Yes

[frazzled]

4. More good news from Alabama, from the SPLC

(in an email newsletter I just received):

SPLC prompts removal of Alabama police officers with hate group ties

Two lieutenants were forced out of the Anniston Police Department in Alabama after we exposed their membership in the white supremacist League of the South. We uncovered a video showing one of the officers speaking at the group’s national convention two years ago, saying he would “choose the League” if ever forced to pick between his job and the hate group

One by one.

[FSogol]

5. +1 Good. n/t

[dixiegrrrrl]

9. Ty for that info!

[lindysalsagal]

8. There's hope for Alabama.

But what about Kansas? The land of "evolution is just a theory?"