Remove the Confederate Monument and flag from the Walton County Courthouse

Beach Fanatic

Jan 28, '24 · 7:06 AM15,4001

The effort to remove the Confederate monument and flag from the Walton County Courthouse rises and falls like the tide.

Things have been quiet since the last push in 2020 during the ‘Black Lives Matter’ movement.

For the last seven years the Committee for Justice, Equality, and Fairness have been speaking out against the Confederate flag and monument being on county property.

“It harkens back to the Confederacy in a time when people of color were not dealt with justly. That message continues at the current time. We believe that it’s impossible for a person of color to receive justice, equal justice in a courthouse that has a Confederate flag and monument on the courthouse lawn” Chair of Committee Mike Bowden said.

The monument and flag have been a point of contention for years. The local committee has been fighting for the removal for seven years.

In 2018, the county held a referendum to remove the flag and monument from the courthouse. 65% of the voters voted to keep it.

In 2020, a protest against the monument and flag turned disorderly. Shortly after, the county commission voted to keep the monument and flag.

Victoria Crystal’s ancestors were slaves.

“That puts a different spin on it for me, you know, and it would that’s the thing that says to me, just destroy it would break it up into a tiny thousand yea know But on the other hand, I don’t know why they are proud of their ancestors fighting in this war, but they are,” Victoria Crystal who serves as the media relations for the committee said.

Instead of destroying, the committee is trying to compromise.

“That’s the thing that they need to remember is that we’re not trying to destroy, we’re saying relocate, let’s find some common ground here but don’t just dismiss us, we are also Walton County,” Crystal said.

Committee members are partnering with nationwide organizations to have more allies and spread their message to more people.

“We’ve partnered with the Southern Poverty Law Center, which has most recently provided us a grant to fund posting billboards to educate and help people join us in our efforts to remove the Confederate flag,” Bowden said.

They’re also planning to return to the commission sometime this Spring and ask for the monument and flag to be removed.

The monument was built around 1871. It was the first of its kind in the state of Florida.

Ongoing efforts to ‘Move the Monument’ in Walton County

WALTON COUNTY, Fla. (WMBB) – The effort to remove the Confederate monument and flag from the Walton County Courthouse rises and falls like the tide. Things have been quiet since the last push…

www.mypanhandle.com

Replies

Beach Fanatic

Mar 18, '24 · 6:42 PM#27

I’m not trashing southern heritage, I’m stating a fact.
It is the go to excuse they use to defend any public display of confederate symbols.
If getting angry makes you feel better go for it.
I’m also southern born and these people piss me off with their continued defense of the confederacy as something to be proud of.
The vast majority of these were built between the 1890s and 1950s, which matches up exactly with the era of Jim Crow segregation.

You just lack sensitivity

SoWal Insider

Mar 18, '24 · 7:27 PM#28

You just lack sensitivity

I lack patience with racists, bigots, xenophobes, and homophobes whose numbers seem to have increased in the last eight years.

Beach Fanatic

Mar 18, '24 · 8:02 PM#29

I lack patience with racists, bigots, xenophobes, and homophobes whose numbers seem to have increased in the last eight years.

All those things are a part of human history, part of human nature and part of life on this good planet. That is the truth and you know it. Judging other groups of people does not make you better AND is not helping any cause. The more you do this the more it becomes a "lost cause"...

SoWal Insider

Mar 18, '24 · 9:27 PM#30

All those things are a part of human history, part of human nature and part of life on this good planet. That is the truth and you know it. Judging other groups of people does not make you better AND is not helping any cause. The more you do this the more it becomes a "lost cause"...

You are not getting it. We must move forward and improve from the past. It most definitely was a lost cause because slavery is morally wrong. Period. And trying to dress is up in some southern heritage costume is condoning not only slavery, but insurrection in the name of slavery. We must try to improve as a specie or the past will drag us into the depths of ignorance.

Beach Fanatic

Mar 19, '24 · 5:35 AM#31

You are not getting it. We must move forward and improve from the past. It most definitely was a lost cause because slavery is morally wrong. Period. And trying to dress is up in some southern heritage costume is condoning not only slavery, but insurrection in the name of slavery. We must try to improve as a specie or the past will drag us into the depths of ignorance.

This is why liberals are now more open to conservative values than I believe ever before. Not one person has condoned slavery in my entire 67 years of life. Born and raised in the South. Proud of my Southern Heritage. I honestly do not know of anyone who would condone anything that is immoral including slavery. That is nonsense logic. Just because I love my Heritage I am associated with being a racist slavery condoning immoral piece of crap. No wonder people are pushing back on the woke cause. Our species is flawed. You need to accept this and improve yourself just like all of us need to do. Maybe if we set a better example for ourselves and stop calling people ignorant or immoral or worse it just might help our species. Or you can keep trying it your way and blame and shame everyone but yourself...

The Civil War was fought because of money and power. If you believe it was fought to end slavery then I suggest reading, listening and learning more about the Civil War Causes from multiple sources. By the way my ancestors never owned a slave. How about your heritage?

Edited Mar 19, '24 · 5:44 AM

SoWal Insider

Mar 19, '24 · 9:00 AM#32

You are not getting it. We must move forward and improve from the past. It most definitely was a lost cause because slavery is morally wrong. Period. And trying to dress is up in some southern heritage costume is condoning not only slavery, but insurrection in the name of slavery. We must try to improve as a specie or the past will drag us into the depths of ignorance.

This

SoWal Insider

Mar 19, '24 · 9:10 AM#33

This is why liberals are now more open to conservative values than I believe ever before. Not one person has condoned slavery in my entire 67 years of life. Born and raised in the South. Proud of my Southern Heritage. I honestly do not know of anyone who would condone anything that is immoral including slavery. That is nonsense logic. Just because I love my Heritage I am associated with being a racist slavery condoning immoral piece of crap. No wonder people are pushing back on the woke cause. Our species is flawed. You need to accept this and improve yourself just like all of us need to do. Maybe if we set a better example for ourselves and stop calling people ignorant or immoral or worse it just might help our species. Or you can keep trying it your way and blame and shame everyone but yourself...

The Civil War was fought because of money and power. If you believe it was fought to end slavery then I suggest reading, listening and learning more about the Civil War Causes from multiple sources. By the way my ancestors never owned a slave. How about your heritage?

You don’t know anyone who would condone anything immoral?
You need to get out more because there are millions of people who are willing to elect a convicted fraudster/rapist to the highest office.

Beach Fanatic

Mar 19, '24 · 11:21 AM#34

I get out just about every day. I talk to people every day. I have never heard anyone say that slavery was moral. That is the subject matter. I agree with what seems like an easy judgement of the people you speak about but the truth is we will never move forward if we hate and castigate. It might be too late. We are a tribal species and conflict is inevitable. The hope is in forgiveness. Without that what are we doing?

SoWal Insider

Mar 19, '24 · 12:21 PM#35

I get out just about every day. I talk to people every day. I have never heard anyone say that slavery was moral. That is the subject matter. I agree with what seems like an easy judgement of the people you speak about but the truth is we will never move forward if we hate and castigate. It might be too late. We are a tribal species and conflict is inevitable. The hope is in forgiveness. Without that what are we doing?

Instead of listening to what they say watch what they do.
A person’s actions will tell you more about them than anything they will ever reveal through conversation.
I’m going to bow out now and just want you to know I respect you and enjoy your posts. We disagree some but agree more often.

Beach Fanatic

Mar 19, '24 · 1:43 PM#36

I respect you as well. I hear you too!

Beach Fanatic

Mar 20, '24 · 7:55 AM#37

All those things are a part of human history, part of human nature and part of life on this good planet. That is the truth and you know it. Judging other groups of people does not make you better AND is not helping any cause. The more you do this the more it becomes a "lost cause"...

You take yourself too far in trying to be reasonable and equitable here. We have a moral obligation to judge the groups he mentions. Do not defend them here.

"racists, bigots, xenophobes, and homophobes"

Beach Fanatic

Mar 20, '24 · 4:49 PM#38

I'm not sure why it has to be on public grounds? Why not move it over to the Heritage Museum?

The Heritage Museum is a train caboose by the railroad tracks. If we ever get train service back, that would be hellacious.

Beach Fanatic

Mar 20, '24 · 6:33 PM#39

You take yourself too far in trying to be reasonable and equitable here. We have a moral obligation to judge the groups he mentions. Do not defend them here.

"racists, bigots, xenophobes, and homophobes"

I will take reasonable and equitable over hate any day of the week and twice on Sunday

Beach Comber

Mar 24, '24 · 10:10 AM#40

So it can be in everyone’s face to remind them the belief in racial superiority stills exists.

You sound like the radical…. Get rid of history! Hid it under a rug! and everything about southern history is solely about slavery… blah blah blah. Economics,$$$, is always behind power of govt … not human rights like they claim! wake up! It was ALSO about state rights and the federal govt’s infringement. The south built jobs and was the economic engine despite what the govt’s efforts tried to destroy! Just like they TRIED to do again during Covid. And where did all the libs run… the “deplorable” south!!! Go figure! ”Those who do not learn from the experience of history are doomed to repeat it”! People like you are the PERFECT pawn for the govts propaganda, especially today! Bc they haven’t stopped their efforts to infringe on America’s rights. Instead of focusing on just the south they are going after ALL of America. Good grief.

Beach Comber

Mar 25, '24 · 10:26 AM#41

So the thread deletes comments but let’s people use mindless, hatred & judgmental comments like one must be a bigot, racist, pro slavery because they have no knowledge of history, big picture concepts or deep thought process. Social media allows silence of the truth so our youth can remain simple-minded and manipulated. Go study history while you still can instead of listening to hatred from 1 side trying to turn American and the south into the mess they left. And that’s coming from someone who’s from MD. Also slave labor has just been sent abroad so stop buying from China then my friend! and other places that allow this and steal jobs from black, white and brown Americans. A flag is the least of our problems but destroying and rewriting history for political manipulation only allows one to be doomed to repeat.

Edited Mar 25, '24 · 10:37 AM

SoWal Insider

Mar 25, '24 · 10:49 AM#42

You sound like the radical…. Get rid of history! Hid it under a rug! and everything about southern history is solely about slavery… blah blah blah. Economics,$$$, is always behind power of govt … not human rights like they claim! wake up! It was ALSO about state rights and the federal govt’s infringement. The south built jobs and was the economic engine despite what the govt’s efforts tried to destroy! Just like they TRIED to do again during Covid. And where did all the libs run… the “deplorable” south!!! Go figure! ”Those who do not learn from the experience of history are doomed to repeat it”! People like you are the PERFECT pawn for the govts propaganda, especially today! Bc they haven’t stopped their efforts to infringe on America’s rights. Instead of focusing on just the south they are going after ALL of America. Good grief.

My reply was deleted because I apparently was accused of attacking you personally.

Beach Comber

Mar 25, '24 · 10:56 AM#43

My reply was deleted because I apparently was accused of attacking you personally.

Well this is not a simple issue and I don’t mean to be rude but history is a passion and we all need to understand the big picture. Too much hatred n divisiveness in our nation when we all should be uniting instead of allowing forces to manipulate n divide.

Beach Lover

Mar 25, '24 · 2:31 PM#44

Attacking other members is verboten.

SoWal Insider

Mar 25, '24 · 2:31 PM#45

Well this is not a simple issue and I don’t mean to be rude but history is a passion and we all need to understand the big picture. Too much hatred n divisiveness in our nation when we all should be uniting instead of allowing forces to manipulate n divide.

I think erecting statues and monuments celebrating armed rebellion in defense of slavery adds to the divisiveness in this nation. Your thoughts?

SoWal Insider

Mar 25, '24 · 2:34 PM#46

Attacking other members is verboten.

Sometimes PoppaJ uses language that probably does cross the line. But his ideas behind his language are almost always correct and precise.

Beach Fanatic

Mar 25, '24 · 3:20 PM#47

Those who Hate. Be grateful that 'your' parents had 'you' because otherwise, you might have been one of the hated. And think how you treat them. (I think there might be a biblical phrase there, maybe, do unto others...) Ellen

SoWal Insider

Mar 25, '24 · 3:34 PM#48

Attacking other members is verboten.

Not only is it verboten it’s also forbidden.

SoWal Insider

Mar 25, '24 · 3:42 PM#49

Well this is not a simple issue and I don’t mean to be rude but history is a passion and we all need to understand the big picture. Too much hatred n divisiveness in our nation when we all should be uniting instead of allowing forces to manipulate n divide.

I cannot unite behind glorifying the slave trade.
It’s like the neofascists or Charles Manson’s family celebrating and building monuments to mass murder because it’s part of their heritage.

Beach Fanatic

Mar 25, '24 · 7:59 PM#50

I cannot unite behind glorifying the slave trade.
It’s like the neofascists or Charles Manson’s family celebrating and building monuments to mass murder because it’s part of their heritage.

No you can't connect those dots. I do not think anyone has purposely glorified slave trade. You can even make a case that if your or I buy any products from China we are on the hook for glorifying cheap labor. Please everyone just use common sense. Stop blaming and shaming. It is counterproductive. We can disagree about the Civil War. We can disagree about many things but we ALL make mistakes of good judgement. When you try so hard to blame the South, blame the political right, blame the uneducated, blame the Christians, blame rural America all you are doing is hurting our cause. Can we not see that we are no better than those we blame?