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| Confederate Civil War flag prompts protests in old North Carolina capitol | Confederate Civil War flag prompts protests in old North Carolina capitol |
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| Civil rights leaders have expressed concern over a Confederate battle flag that has been hung inside the old state capitol in Raleigh, North Carolina, to mark the sesquicentennial of the Civil War. | Civil rights leaders have expressed concern over a Confederate battle flag that has been hung inside the old state capitol in Raleigh, North Carolina, to mark the sesquicentennial of the Civil War. |
| The flag was raised inside the state House of Representatives chamber last week, as part of a historical display intended to replicate how the antebellum building appeared in 1863, when the southern Confederacy was fighting the Civil War against the northern Union, over slavery. | The flag was raised inside the state House of Representatives chamber last week, as part of a historical display intended to replicate how the antebellum building appeared in 1863, when the southern Confederacy was fighting the Civil War against the northern Union, over slavery. |
| The presentation of the Confederate battle flag at state government buildings has long been an issue of debate throughout the American south. For more than a decade, the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People has urged its members to boycott South Carolina because of that state's display of the flag on the state capitol grounds. The North Carolina state historic sites director, Keith Hardison, said on Thursday that the flag should be viewed in its proper historical context. The flag will be on display for two years, while the 150th anniversary of the Civil War is recognized. The Civil War was fought between 1861 and 1865. | The presentation of the Confederate battle flag at state government buildings has long been an issue of debate throughout the American south. For more than a decade, the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People has urged its members to boycott South Carolina because of that state's display of the flag on the state capitol grounds. The North Carolina state historic sites director, Keith Hardison, said on Thursday that the flag should be viewed in its proper historical context. The flag will be on display for two years, while the 150th anniversary of the Civil War is recognized. The Civil War was fought between 1861 and 1865. |
| "Our goal is not to create issues," said Hardison, a Civil War re-enactor and history buff. "Our goal is to help people understand issues of the past … if you refuse to put something that someone might object to or have a concern with in the exhibit, then you are basically censoring history." | "Our goal is not to create issues," said Hardison, a Civil War re-enactor and history buff. "Our goal is to help people understand issues of the past … if you refuse to put something that someone might object to or have a concern with in the exhibit, then you are basically censoring history." |
| The North Carolina NAACP president, Reverend William Barber, was shocked on Friday when he was shown a photograph of the flag by The Associated Press. "He is right that it has a historical context," Barber said, referring to Hardison's words. "But what is that history? The history of racism. The history of lynchings. The history of death. The history of slavery. If you say that shouldn't be offensive, then either you don't know the history or you are denying the history." | The North Carolina NAACP president, Reverend William Barber, was shocked on Friday when he was shown a photograph of the flag by The Associated Press. "He is right that it has a historical context," Barber said, referring to Hardison's words. "But what is that history? The history of racism. The history of lynchings. The history of death. The history of slavery. If you say that shouldn't be offensive, then either you don't know the history or you are denying the history." |
| Sessions of the state general assembly moved to a newer building half a century ago, but the old capitol is routinely used as a venue for official state government events. Governor Pat McCrory's office is on the first floor, as are the offices of his chief of staff and communications staff. The governor was in the house chamber, where the Confederate flag hangs, as recently as Wednesday, when he presided over the swearing in ceremony of his new Highway Patrol commander. McCrory, a Republican, was not immediately available for comment on Friday, a state government holiday. | Sessions of the state general assembly moved to a newer building half a century ago, but the old capitol is routinely used as a venue for official state government events. Governor Pat McCrory's office is on the first floor, as are the offices of his chief of staff and communications staff. The governor was in the house chamber, where the Confederate flag hangs, as recently as Wednesday, when he presided over the swearing in ceremony of his new Highway Patrol commander. McCrory, a Republican, was not immediately available for comment on Friday, a state government holiday. |
| Prior to taking his current job, in 2006, Hardison worked as director at the Mississippi home of the Confederate president, Jefferson Davis, which is operated as a museum and library owned by the Sons of Confederate Veterans. The group has led the fight in the South for the proud display of the Confederate flag, which it contends is a symbol of heritage, not hate. Hardison said the battle flag currently on display hangs with other flags described in the diary of a North Carolina woman who visited the capitol in 1863. A large US flag displayed in the senate chamber is reminiscent of a trophy of war that was captured from Union troops at the Battle of Plymouth. | Prior to taking his current job, in 2006, Hardison worked as director at the Mississippi home of the Confederate president, Jefferson Davis, which is operated as a museum and library owned by the Sons of Confederate Veterans. The group has led the fight in the South for the proud display of the Confederate flag, which it contends is a symbol of heritage, not hate. Hardison said the battle flag currently on display hangs with other flags described in the diary of a North Carolina woman who visited the capitol in 1863. A large US flag displayed in the senate chamber is reminiscent of a trophy of war that was captured from Union troops at the Battle of Plymouth. |
| "I thought, wouldn't it be wonderful to recreate this," Hardison said. "I think we were all thinking along the same vein … The Capitol is a working seat of government, in that the governor and his staff has his office there. But it is also a museum." | "I thought, wouldn't it be wonderful to recreate this," Hardison said. "I think we were all thinking along the same vein … The Capitol is a working seat of government, in that the governor and his staff has his office there. But it is also a museum." |
| A placard near the entrance of the house and senate chambers describes the history of the flags on display. Guides giving daily tours of the building have also been briefed to recount the history of the flags to visitors. | A placard near the entrance of the house and senate chambers describes the history of the flags on display. Guides giving daily tours of the building have also been briefed to recount the history of the flags to visitors. |
| Hardison also pointed out that the national flag used by the Confederate government, the so-called Stars and Bars with its circle of white stars and red and white stripes, is still flown over the State Capitol dome each year on Confederate Memorial Day. The more familiar battle flag was used by the rebel military. | Hardison also pointed out that the national flag used by the Confederate government, the so-called Stars and Bars with its circle of white stars and red and white stripes, is still flown over the State Capitol dome each year on Confederate Memorial Day. The more familiar battle flag was used by the rebel military. |
| Barber said that if someone wanted to display the Confederate battle flag across the street at the North Carolina Museum of History, he would have no objection. But to display the flag where the state's governor has his office was over the line, he said. | Barber said that if someone wanted to display the Confederate battle flag across the street at the North Carolina Museum of History, he would have no objection. But to display the flag where the state's governor has his office was over the line, he said. |
| "That flag does not represent our democracy," Barber said. "It represents division. Underneath that flag, bodies were hung. People were terrorized. The people who marched under that flag deliberately violated the fundamental principles of freedom in our Constitution, to keep radical discrimination in place. It should come down." | "That flag does not represent our democracy," Barber said. "It represents division. Underneath that flag, bodies were hung. People were terrorized. The people who marched under that flag deliberately violated the fundamental principles of freedom in our Constitution, to keep radical discrimination in place. It should come down." |
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