Dave Davis
Member
Update!
FRANKLIN — Franklin Mayor Tom Miller clarified statements he made about the use of a Confederate flag at the anniversary of the Battle of Franklin, and a "Southern nationalist organization" has threatened a lawsuit.
Miller, who led efforts to buy Civil War battlefield land last year, told a radio audience Wednesday that he preferred re-enactors fly the second flag of the Confederate States, which is known as "The Stainless Banner," rather than the Confederate battle flag, which has been associated with hate groups, during the public ceremony in Franklin Square.
There is just too much emotion on both sides regarding the battle flag," Miller told Kevin Miller, radio host of 99.7 WTN Super-Talk.
Both flags have the "Southern Cross," but on The Stainless Banner it is on a field of white.
"We did not want the honor of the men who fought and died at this battle to be tainted by activities of some relative to a flag," Miller said in the interview. "We want to see the second Confederate national flag as the official colors representing the Confederacy, not the battle flag."
In a Monday meeting, Miller had said to city aldermen and staff, "In the strongest terms possible, let me suggest that flag not appear." He said after the meeting, "I don't want anything that could be a rallying point for or against it. And by its presence in downtown, it could very well become that rallying point."
Miller, who could not be reached by The Tennessean for comment, issued a statement that did not mention his radio comments but took issue with the newspaper.
"First, let me say, the headline and story printed in The Tennessean did not convey my exact words or thoughts," the statement said. "I did NOT ban the Confederate flag from the Battle of Franklin Anniversary event. It's a flag that was used in battle during the Civil War; it would be impossible to have an event commemorating the battle of Franklin without the Confederate flag represented in some way."
Mark Cook, general manager of The Tennessean in Williamson County, said he believes the headline on Wednesday's front page — "Rebel flag, guns not wanted at battle event" — accurately reflected the mayor's sentiments.
David O. Jones, Franklin resident and chairman of the Tennessee League of the South, threatened Wednesday to sue the city if Confederate symbols were not allowed.
"I will not back away immediately," Jones said after being told of Miller's radio comments. "He's just giving us double talk, political doublespeak. Give us a week."
The League of the South described itself in a press statement as the "premier Southern nationalist organization." A spokeswoman for the Southern Poverty Law Center, a Montgomery, Ala.-based civil rights watchdog group, said it has identified the League of the South as a racist hate group since 2001.
Franklin city attorney Doug Berry would not comment but said a "First Amendment area" will be set aside during the ceremony for people who may want to express their views.
Michael Bradley, division commander for the Tennessee Sons of Confederate Veterans, said Miller was "dangerously close" to using his office to create an unconstitutional restraint of free speech.
"Unfortunately, the mayor has succeeded in polarizing the community," Bradley said. "You cannot demonize a symbol without demonizing the people who are associated with the symbol."
Miller also said Wednesday that Civil War re-enactors could bring their historic guns to the ceremony, but police officers must check them. Police Chief Jackie Moore had voiced safety concerns about re-enactors' guns. •
http://tennessean.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061005/NEWS01/610050384
FRANKLIN — Franklin Mayor Tom Miller clarified statements he made about the use of a Confederate flag at the anniversary of the Battle of Franklin, and a "Southern nationalist organization" has threatened a lawsuit.
Miller, who led efforts to buy Civil War battlefield land last year, told a radio audience Wednesday that he preferred re-enactors fly the second flag of the Confederate States, which is known as "The Stainless Banner," rather than the Confederate battle flag, which has been associated with hate groups, during the public ceremony in Franklin Square.
There is just too much emotion on both sides regarding the battle flag," Miller told Kevin Miller, radio host of 99.7 WTN Super-Talk.
Both flags have the "Southern Cross," but on The Stainless Banner it is on a field of white.
"We did not want the honor of the men who fought and died at this battle to be tainted by activities of some relative to a flag," Miller said in the interview. "We want to see the second Confederate national flag as the official colors representing the Confederacy, not the battle flag."
In a Monday meeting, Miller had said to city aldermen and staff, "In the strongest terms possible, let me suggest that flag not appear." He said after the meeting, "I don't want anything that could be a rallying point for or against it. And by its presence in downtown, it could very well become that rallying point."
Miller, who could not be reached by The Tennessean for comment, issued a statement that did not mention his radio comments but took issue with the newspaper.
"First, let me say, the headline and story printed in The Tennessean did not convey my exact words or thoughts," the statement said. "I did NOT ban the Confederate flag from the Battle of Franklin Anniversary event. It's a flag that was used in battle during the Civil War; it would be impossible to have an event commemorating the battle of Franklin without the Confederate flag represented in some way."
Mark Cook, general manager of The Tennessean in Williamson County, said he believes the headline on Wednesday's front page — "Rebel flag, guns not wanted at battle event" — accurately reflected the mayor's sentiments.
David O. Jones, Franklin resident and chairman of the Tennessee League of the South, threatened Wednesday to sue the city if Confederate symbols were not allowed.
"I will not back away immediately," Jones said after being told of Miller's radio comments. "He's just giving us double talk, political doublespeak. Give us a week."
The League of the South described itself in a press statement as the "premier Southern nationalist organization." A spokeswoman for the Southern Poverty Law Center, a Montgomery, Ala.-based civil rights watchdog group, said it has identified the League of the South as a racist hate group since 2001.
Franklin city attorney Doug Berry would not comment but said a "First Amendment area" will be set aside during the ceremony for people who may want to express their views.
Michael Bradley, division commander for the Tennessee Sons of Confederate Veterans, said Miller was "dangerously close" to using his office to create an unconstitutional restraint of free speech.
"Unfortunately, the mayor has succeeded in polarizing the community," Bradley said. "You cannot demonize a symbol without demonizing the people who are associated with the symbol."
Miller also said Wednesday that Civil War re-enactors could bring their historic guns to the ceremony, but police officers must check them. Police Chief Jackie Moore had voiced safety concerns about re-enactors' guns. •
http://tennessean.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061005/NEWS01/610050384
