PRESS RELEASE:
Contact: Kirk D. Lyons 828-669-5189
17 MAY 2001
Confederate Flag Claims
Filed Against Grady Co., Georgia Schools
Black Mountain, NC -
The Southern Legal Resource Center Inc, announces that it has filed
civil rights claims against the Grady County Schools on behalf of nine
area students whose civil and constitutional rights were violated when
Washington Middle School and Cairo High School officials banned
Confederate symbols last February.
The claims were filed with the Department of
Education, office of Civil Rights alleging discrimination based on race
and national origin. Investigation and arbitration has been requested.
Claims were also filed with the Department of Justice, Equal Opportunity
Section alleging discrimination based on religion.
Constitutional claims and civil rights claims will
be filed in Federal court after the DOE & DOJ investigations.
The SLRC is coordinating its legal efforts with
the Southern Heritage Defense Organization, a local family support group
for the Grady County students wishing to display pride in their
Confederate heritage.
"This case is about justice and liberty," said
SLRC Board Chairman Lourie A. Salley, III, a Lexington, SC attorney.
"This school needs to clean up its civil liberties
act," said SLRC Chief Trial Counsel Kirk D. Lyons. Lyons was referring
to a quote by Cairo High School Principal Wayne Tootle who, when asked
why the Confederate flag could not be worn on a shirt replied: "That the
flag is racist" and " I've kept these niggers in line for 25 years and
I'm not about to let you white boys have an uprising!"
Many felt the schools banned the Confederate flag
because of the recent change in the Georgia state flag.
The claims will hopefully be arbitrated this
summer.
The SLRC is non-profit, tax exempt, South Carolina
public law firm that specializes in cases involving Southern Heritage
violations.
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SLRC, P.O. Box 1235, Black Mountain, NC 28711. Phone: 828-669-5189 Dr.
Payne and Atty. Lyons SCV members, I.N. Giffen,758, Black Mountain, NC
