Black Man Supports Confederate Flag
Amanda Shropshire
April 26, 2008
He’s become somewhat of a celebrity because of his love of a certain flag. H.K. Edgerton, a Black supporter of the Confederate flag came to Ringgold once again today to show support at a rally held in the flag’s honor. He is back in Ringgold again today just in time to talk about a new developments in the battle for the flag. A lawsuit was filed against the city of Ringgold yesterday for not flying the confederate flag which has been missing from the city’s flag pole for three years.
“This square should be full of Black folks today shouting out their heritage with pride,” is what Edgerton tells his supporters, but he is the only Black person to show up at a Confederate Flag rally today in Ringgold. However, that didn’t stop him from sharing a message of brotherhood between blacks and whites to his fellow flag supporters.
“Standing here with this flag makes me Southern. To dishonor all these folks that look like me who earned a place in honor and dignity especially right here in Ringgold,” says Edgerton.
Edgerton has a following after calling it an injustice when the city decided three years ago to take the Confederate flag down from the Depot.
However today, Edgerton along with his supporters are more positive about the flag’s future. Yesterday the Southern Legal Resource Center issued a lawsuit against the city of Ringgold saying disrupting a memorial violates Georgia State Law.
“It is a shame that here all of a sudden we had to go to court to fight for what is right,” says Edgerton.
The less controversial American and Hardy Flags replace the Confederate flag at the depot but Edgerton says those flags are not inclusive either. It’s a message that rings true with those who came to support Edgerton and others who make it their mission to keep the Confederate flag flying.
“Confederate soldiers of all colors left that depot heading to all theaters of war. And for folks to take the flag down and now to tell our babies that they should be sensitive about it cause of slavery, thats a bunch of poppycock,” says Edgerton.
It’s a message that rings true with those who came to support Edgerton and others who make it their mission to keep the Confederate flag flying.
“I’m proud of it. This is what GA is all about this is what’s been there all along and we need to have it back,” says Linda Hullander.
On The Web: http://www.newschannel9.com/news/flag_968240___article.html/confederate_edgarton.html
