Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, July 24, 1994 TAG: 9407300019
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL PAGE: A2 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: MYRTLE BEACH, S. C. LENGTH: Short
Thousands of protesters marched through the streets of this tourist town demanding that the flag be pulled down from the state capitol in Columbia. They were met by hundreds of Confederate flag supporters who waved the banners as the protestors marched by.
``The Confederate flag represents the worst of racism, the worst of exploitation,'' Benjamin Chavis, executive director of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, told a crowd at a church before the march.
``It's not just an insult to African-Americans, it's an insult to all Americans, to all people of goodwill all across the world,'' Chavis said to thunderous applause and a cry of ``Take the red rag down.''
Chavis issued the ultimatum before leading the march.
``Just as sure as we changed South Africa, we're going to change South Carolina,'' Chavis said. ``We don't have to spend our money on people who are going to insult us.''
As the marchers strode past pizza parlors and video arcades, flag supporters lined the route and defiantly displayed row upon row of the rebel banner. Scores of local, state and federal law enforcement officers kept taunts from turning to violence.
Later in the day, about 1,000 flag supporters marched in a steady drizzle, chanting, ``Never take it down.''
by CNB