Saturday, May 12th began as most any other day on the Boulevard, where 7 Va Flaggers gathered to protest the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts and their illegal actions in forcing the removal of Confederate Battle Flags from the portico of the Confederate War Memorial/Pelham Chapel, flying a U.S. Flag on a Confederate War Memorial, and encroachment on the R.E. Lee Camp Confederate Memorial Park.
http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-
The weather was absolutely gorgeous, with temperatures in the high 70’s, lots of sunshine, and a beautiful breeze to lift the flags! We had the pleasure of welcoming first time flagger Everette Ellis to the Boulevard, who carried a flag that flew 50 years ago, during the Centennial of the WBTS.
At one point, late in the afternoon, Cecil “Tommy” Thomas walked over to stand on the corner we call “Camp Grayson”. For months, we stood at this corner, which was a great spot for allowing us to explain to museum visitors what the VMFA had done. Since the March 10 incident with the United Daughters of the Confederacy, we have lost the use of that corner, even though the UDC told us that it is not actually their property. If we stand there, museum guards usually come out and tell us to move. This time, the guards came out of the building, but did not approach Tommy. They simply stood by the museum entrance, communicating with their radios and taking photographs. Tommy stood at the corner with a flag, for about 15 minutes, and Flagger Fred Merridew stood nearby, with a camera.
Fred concluded that the museum had most likely called the police and he and Tommy returned to the sidewalk.
Sure enough, a few minutes later, the Richmond Police arrived. Tommy and TriPp left their flags on the sidewalk and walked towards the museum entrance to use the restroom facilities. The Richmond Police Officers and a VMFA security guard stopped them on the walkway. The link below is to a recording of the conversation. The angry, loud voice you hear at the beginning is that of VMFA museum guard, Robert Harrison. He is the "cause I said so" guard from the confrontation with Flagger Jimmy Jones and the guard who likes to call TriPp and Susan by name and make intimidating comments. The other two cordial voices are the Richmond Police officers. What they have to say about why the VMFA called them shocked even the most battle hardened Flaggers.
Listen here:
www.vaflaggers.com/
It seems that Mrs. Martha Van Scheck, President General of the United Daughters of the Confederacy, filed a Trespassing Enforcement Authorization Letter with the Richmond Police just days after the incident in which the UDC called the police on the Va Flaggers for standing on the edge of their curb to take a photo. As you can clearly hear in the audio, the Richmond Police informed the Va Flaggers that, according to the instructions they received from the UDC, “You are welcome…your person…but they don’t want the flags on there,…so just don’t take the flags on there.” They told us that the letter was filed specifically for the Flaggers, to prevent us from carrying Confederate flags on the grounds of the United Daughters of the Confederacy. They further stated that by the authority the UDC has granted, Flaggers will be arrested if they are caught carrying a Confederate flag on the UDC grounds. This is in direct contradiction to earlier claims by UDC officials that the issues with trespassing had nothing to do with the Va Flaggers, or our flags. A copy of the document is attached to this email.
For those who may not be aware of what has occurred, I have posted links to the correspondence between the Va Flaggers and the UDC.
Here is the first communication, requesting Battle Flags to be raised in support of the Confederate War Memorial and the Va Flaggers:
http://www.vaflaggers.com/
This is the response we received:
http://www.vaflaggers.com/
Here is our initial report from the March 10 incident:
http://www.vaflaggers.com/
The statement issued by the President General, UDC:
http://hqudc.org/about/pg_
...and our response:
http://www.vaflaggers.com/
Since October 1, 2011, over 175 people have joined the Virginia Flaggers, on the sidewalk, at least twice weekly, in defense of our ancestors and our flags, and in protest of the illegal actions of the VMFA. Most of us never imagined, when we began the campaign to RETURN the flags and RESTORE the honor, that the United Daughters of the Confederacy would side with the VMFA in this battle… and against the VA Flaggers, our ancestors, and the flag they fought, bled and died under.
For those who choose to defend our heritage, OUR TIME IS NOW.! The line in the sand has been drawn. NO MORE will we sit idly by as our flags are removed and our ancestors are attacked. We are calling on every Southerner to join us in standing against those who would DARE to remove Confederate Battle Flags from the portico of a Memorial Chapel, and, sadly, those whose words and deeds prove them complicit with their efforts.
Saturday, June 2nd, we will be gathering for a mass Flagging on the Boulevard, immediately following the Memorial Service honoring Jefferson Davis' birthday at Hollywood Cemetery in Richmond. We invite you to attend the 9:00 a.m. ceremony and then join us on the Boulevard and be part of those who are changing hearts and minds, and forwarding the colors with honor.
For more information, contact vaflagger@comcast.net
"If you are true Southerners, reach back to your Southern roots for enough fortitude to stand up...Our heritage cannot be saved if they see us as weaklings. During Lincoln's War the South had 104,000 deserters. Think before you join them." - Elijah Coleman
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If the VMFA has broken the law, then why not file a formal complaint and have them arrested?
ReplyDeletePrecisely and I imagine that is being looked into.
ReplyDeleteWe have tried many routes with formal complaints. You have to understand that the VMFA is in bed with our Governor and State legislators. They are well funded and pay a lobbyist $100,000 a year to make sure all legislation goes their way.
ReplyDeleteI imagine that the right people with good lawyers and tons of money could successfully pursue it, but I am neither...just a chick with a flag who decided I wanted to do something besides sit around and complain. :)
You have my utmost admiration, Ma'am. Not in my wildest dreams could I have ever imagined that we have Scalawags in our midst in 2012. All we can do is the best we can, as my mother would say and please carry on.
ReplyDeleteEvery one of their ancestors would find the women who have filed these complaints, and dishonored our flag, absolutely REPUGNANT.
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely and ban them from UDC.
ReplyDeleteTAXES more important than principles? More important than honor? More important than truth?
ReplyDeleteThe brainwashing thus begun by the Marxist begun Republican Party and the martyr they created, Abe Lincoln, has proven its success.
TAXES more important than principles? More important than honor? More important than truth?
ReplyDeleteThe brainwashing thus begun by the Marxist begun Republican Party and the martyr they created, Abe Lincoln, has proven its success.
Right on.