Kennesaw leaders will battle a state law to remove a Confederate symbol from a public park.
City Council members want to remove the controversial Confederate battle flag from city property in the heart of downtown. Councilman David Blinkhorn, who spearheaded the discussion at Monday’s work session, told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution Wednesday that he wants to the flag permanently removed because “it simply does not reflect what Kennesaw is today.”
But the city's hands are tied due to a state law that restricts what can be done with veteran memorials. The statute, which originated from a 2001 compromise that removed the segregation-era state flag that incorporated the Confederate battle flag, says no publicly owned monument on public property can be moved or altered in any way.
“This is a local issue, and should be a local decision,” Blinkhorn told his fellow Council members.
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This isn't a new fight. Council members in 2017 voted to ask state leaders to allow local governments to determine the best way to honor military personnel. A petition was also created in 2017 calling for the removal of the flag, which flies at the corner of Main and Cherokee streets just outside the Southern Museum of Civil War & Locomotive History as part of a memorial honoring veterans of various wars.
According to that petition, the flag was installed to honor William A. Fuller, the Confederate train conductor whose reclaiming of a locomotive during one of the Civil War’s largest train chases led to the deaths of eight Union raiders. More than 6,700 people have signed the petition.
State Sen. Lindsey Tippins of Marietta, who represents Kennesaw in the Legislature, said he wants to refresh his memory about the law statute before commenting. He did say that if a mandate is in place, he believes it “ought to remain.”
“The devil is always in the details,” he added.
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Recent protests following the death of George Floyd, a black man in Minneapolis police custody, spurred Blinkhorn to bring up the topic at Monday’s work session, he said. Someone vandalized the pole, cut the rope and removed the battle flag from the memorial, said city spokeswoman Rebecca Graham.
The U.S. and Georgia state flags were temporarily removed to prevent vandalism, but, unlike the Confederate emblem, have returned to duty, Blinkhorn said. City Council on Monday will consider taking action on whether to pull the battle flag permanently.
“My intentions are to put it in their hands on whether they want to fight it or not,” Blinkhorn said of state legislators.
Councilman Chris Henderson said he believes the city can honor and respect history in a different way.
“[It] represents very negative feelings for a lot of people, and it’s not something that I stand for personally,” he added.
Councilman Pat Ferris said he would be in favor of replacing the battle flag with the state flag Georgia flew during the time of the Confederacy. Councilman Doc Eaton added Kennesaw has to “find a way to get the battle flag off the memorial park.”
“I stand with my fellow council members,” added Councilwoman Tracey Viars. “Let’s take that flag down.”
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