Alcolu resident responds to Ridgeway's flag statements

Posted
Initially, I had not planned to make comments to the statements of Rep. Robert Ridgeway, which were included in the article, “Ridgeway fears Confederate Flag issue distracts from Charleston tragedy,” published June 22, 2015, on manninglive.com and June 25, 2015, in The Manning Times. As a supportive constituent, I am responding to make you, Rep. Ridgeway, aware of how I feel about your insensitive comments on this horrific incident. Your comments did not surprise me, after remembering our last conversation following a meeting in which you, a County Council member and I were engaged in during early spring 2015. First of all, you should take into account the horrific incident that took place June 21, 1995, in Clarendon County as rendered by the Ku Klux Klan, now known as the Council of Conservative Citizens. The incident in Charleston parallels what happened in Clarendon County in 1995. The only difference: No lives were lost in Clarendon County; however, a sacred place was violated. I would suggest that you Google “Forgotten Fires” and “Two Klansmen were indicted for Burning SC Churches.” The Confederate Flag has always represented a symbol of oppression, racism and violence perpetrated on groups not considered the majority. Our governor was able to draw and understand a correlation between the Confederate Flag and violence. I surmised this conclusion prompted her to take bold steps Monday, June 22, 2015, calling for the flag’s removal from its hoist on our State House grounds. Her bi-partisan press conference was held on the same day your remarks were published. I am strongly suggesting that you attempt to connect with some of your constituents who are members of Macedonia Missionary Baptist Church. You said, “I am going to vote the way most of the people in District 64 tell me to vote.” It is recommended that you take into account the ethnic composition of District 64 represented by you in the South Carolina House of Representatives. So, how are you planning to “ … wait and see how everyone feels about the issue?” The greatest and only step you should take is to follow those who have seen and acted on the relationship of a symbol of oppression that holds a prominent place on our State House grounds. To remove the veils of oppression, racism and violence in our state begins with you in Columbia and me in our county. With you and I working collectively for the betterment of our county, let’s remember we still have so much to do to right the wrongs locally, both in the state and society as a whole. CARRIE SINKLER-PARKER Alcolu