by Leah Justice
The City of Saluda went into closed session during its June 9 meeting to consult with its attorney after a complaint was made regarding confederate flags flying on city property during Memorial Day weekend.
Stoney Lamar said he would like for the city to consider an ordinance prohibiting such signs, flags and banners in the city.
He asked city council to look at the issue from the African American community, who he said sees something very different when they see that flag.
“I found this particularly disturbing on Memorial Day,” Lamar said.
Lamar said the city asks for permits for bike races in the city and he doesn’t think that the Memorial Day demonstration was approved by anyone on city council.
Lamar said he happens to be the grandfather of a beautiful 15-year-old African American girl and if he didn’t ask the question he doesn’t think he’d be being a good grandfather.
Lee Atkins said he doesn’t think Saluda should turn its back on history. He said organizations like the Ku Klux Klan (KKK) have given the confederate flag a bad name but that doesn’t change history, saying flying the flag is done so confederate soldiers will be remembered on Memorial Day.
The Veterans Park in downtown Saluda hosts both Memorial Day and Veterans Day services annually.
Most years, the flags displayed at the park include one confederate flag, a North Carolina flag, an American flag and flags for each branch of the military.
This year, three confederate flags were among the other flags and the city received complaints.
Upon returning from closed session, city commissioners did not make any decisions regarding the flags. Commissioners decided to turn the issue over to city attorney Bailey Nager for research.