That led to the offering of a surprise amendment, which will put the House on the record about the Confederate flag, and whether it should be sold in National Park Service gift shops and book stores, as well as whether the rebel flag should be displayed at some federal cemeteries on a regular basis.
Advertisement
Not long after South Carolina brought down the Confederate battle flag from state capitol grounds this morning, the Mississippi NAACP and a group of about 30 Mississippi clergy members commended South Carolina lawmaker, and called on Mississippi Governor Phil Bryant to follow suit.
Rep. John Lewis, D-Ga., a veteran of the civil rights era, said that was a form of non-violent protest of the type used a half-century ago.
More than 150 years later, it is still a widely debated symbol.
At the same time, he said he regretted not telling Democrats in advance about his plans. While Democrats wanted an immediate vote, the amendment was instead sent to a committee.
Late Wednesday night, Rep. Ken Calvert, R-Calif., chairman of the Appropriations Subcommittee for Interior, Environment and Related Agencies, introduced a one-paragraph amendment that didn’t specifically mention Confederate flags.
Disney’s not the only theme park with a Confederate flag on display, either. Most parks in that chain fly six American flags at their entrances to honor the name (dodging the issue of whether to fly the Confederate flag), but the original Six Flags Over Texas park outside Dallas flies the historical six flags: Spain, France, Mexico, the Republic of Texas, the Confederacy, and the United States of America.
Allegretti says he does not support Hattiesburg Mayor Johnny DuPree in his removal of the state flag from city buildings, “Why would he take our flag down?”
Congressman Jared Huffman (D-San Rafael), the author of two amendments curtailing sales and displays of Confederate flags on federal property, today released the following statement after House Republican Leadership retracted a spending bill, effectively quashing the progress the House of Representatives made to take down the Confederate flag. The flags must be removed by the end of that day.
“It would revert to the status quo”, said Huffman.
Advertisement
But most Democrats say they are not interested in such talks.
