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SLRC UPDATE: SLRC Weekly Update
Greetings Compatriots:
Hello to everyone. I hope that everyone has had a great week. We have a lot of great news and I’ll start with Caldwell County, NC. As many of you are now aware, Caldwell County schools initiated a ban on Confederate symbols on Friday, March 19th. Many students wore shirts all this week and were suspended. I received a flood of phone calls and took fact statements. Police were stationed outside the school doors to monitor student’s clothing as they entered school this week. The story was even covered on one of the national TV morning shows.
Here is Commander Jim Pierce's report of today's events:
Today the Superintendent of schools for Caldwell County issued a letter declaring that as of Monday the students of South Caldwell High School will again be allowed to wear their Confederate clothing.
Thanks to all of you who contacted the officials there.
The commander of the soon to be chartered camp there, Tim Miller, did a fine job on the ground along with members of several other camps in the area. The SLRC jumped in right away and I believe the SLRC materially provided the information needed to sway the Superintendent to surrender.
The Superintendent's capitulation overrides the principal of the school - the parents will now seek to rid themselves of that principal.
Jim Pierce
This is remarkable and we are very pleased for all of the parents and students.
Also in this Update:
Racist Food Products
Depositions are scheduled for Richard Smith on April 9th. We will keep everyone informed as the depositions are taking place.
DuPont
Things are still hot at DuPont. Many people are becoming more involved with the bi-weekly vigil outside of the DuPont Spruance plant in Richmond, VA. Plaintiff Jimmy Jones reports that over 20 people with flags protested yesterday.
March to Charleston
HK has had a wonderful week on his March to the Sea. HK has made his way through Newberry and is rapidly approaching Columbia. Here is a synopsis of this week’s march for HK.
Day 12 - March to the Sea
MARCH 26, 2004
HK started out around 7:30 this morning and marching through Newberry wasn't as eventful today as it was yesterday. HK says "That's because I straightened all those folks out!" Well, I'm glad that he straightened them out! He had three folks marching with him today, James Greene with the League of the South and his girlfriend's daughter. Also a gentlemen named Wayne marched too.
There was a lot of honking and waving as HK marched. HK marched past Mid Carolina Middle School and many students talked to him. They wanted to know what he was doing and why. Then some pointed out that HK was in the Dixie Outfitter's catalog this month. They wanted to know where he got his jeans and jacket and he told them, "In that catalog I'm in!" A lot of the kids were taking pictures although HK wondered where in the world they got the cameras from.
Steve Kimble from the League of the South put HK up in the Holiday Inn in Newberry and took him to some supper last night. HK wants to thank all the League of the South members that have been supporting him as he has marched through Newberry!
Day 11 - March to the Sea
MARCH 25, 2004
Today started early as usual for HK. He began marching around 7:15 towards Newberry. He had many folks stop and talk to him today and ask him why in the world he was doing what he was doing. Two black ladies stopped him in Newberry and really got onto him for carrying the flag around. The press was there and covered the whole thing. By the time the two ladies left, they were hugging HK and completely did a 180! HK said this day has been the best day he had on this march and possibly the March Across Dixie. He ran into a lot of folks today that came down hard on him, but left in total belief in what HK was doing. It was wonderful.
HK wants to thank Larry Salley and Steve Kimbell, League of the South members that are putting him up in a hotel tonight and tomorrow night and treating him to supper. Thanks so much!
Y'all come on out and support HK. He will be marching on to Prosperity tomorrow.
Day 10 - March to the Sea
MARCH 24, 2004
Today started very early for HK. He woke up at 3:00 and couldn't go back to sleep! He started marching around 7:00 am. He was stopped by a few reporters in Clinton, SC. HK said he had to straighten a few people out in Clinton! He marched on into Joanna where he was told he was sure to face problems and faced nothing but well-wishing. He then marched on through Kinard where he finished the day.
Along the way, HK said he stopped about a hundred times and talked to folks. Even through all the stops, HK still made remarkable time.
The Laurens camp is putting him up in the Days Inn for the third night in a row and they will be taking him to supper as well. Anyone interested in reserving a hotel room for HK should give Allison a call at 864-476-0656. HK will be marching through Newberry tomorrow and on towards Columbia by Hwy. 76.
Day 9 - March to the Sea
MARCH 23, 2004
Today was started a little later than usual. HK was taken to breakfast by Past SC Division Commander Roper and Commander of the McGowan Laurens camp, Mark Simpson. HK ate the breakfast of champions and strutted like a peacock. A young lady stopped and marched a good ways with him and said, "Oh goodness, I forgot, I've got to go to work!" She hugged his neck and started back for her car. Madeline and Charles marched with HK again today and Jackson and I followed along in the van behind them.
Many people pulled their cars over and took pictures, gave hugs and gave donations to HK.
HK marched into Laurens and he and Madeline spoke with a very nice lady that told HK and us to go to her cafe and eat a free lunch. She owns the Hummingbird Cafe in the square in Laurens and what a magnificent lunch! Before lunch though, HK altered his marching route so that he could march right past The Redneck Shop in Laurens which is known to be a store owned by a Klansman. That didn't bother HK though, he strutted right past the shop with his flag and holding Madeline's hand. This was a great day filled with much encouragement. We need guys to offer to put HK up for the night as he is getting to the point where driving home is difficult.
Thanks so much!!! Maurice Bessinger Update
PRESS RELEASE
Bessinger Appeals Decision to Higher Court
On March 12th it was announced that Judge William Keesley granted the Motions of Defendants BI-LO, Piggly Wiggly, Kroger, and Publix to dismiss my lawsuits against them in the circuit court of Lexington County based on the claim that we had failed to state a cause of action under the South Carolina Unfair Trade Practices Act.
This was the second attempt by BI-LO to have the case dismissed. In their first attempt on December 27, 2002, Judge Kenneth Goode ruled in Lexington County circuit court that we did in fact state a valid cause of action under the South Carolina Unfair Trade Practices Act and denied BI-LO's motion to dismiss.
Obviously, I agree with Judge Goodes ruling and disagree with the ruling of Judge Keesley. I am appealing Judge Keesleys' ruling to the South Carolina Court of Appeals and am hopeful that this decision will be reversed on appeal so that I will have my day in court.
The South Carolina Unfair Trade Practices Act was enacted to protect people from unfair acts in the marketplace which cause damages and affect the public interest. I believe that the removal of my barbecue sauce from the grocery chain stores after over forty years of continuous business just because they did not approve of or agree with my reported personal opinions was an unfair act. It is undisputed that my barbecue sauce is an excellent and popular product. Grocery stores should be in the business of selling food products, not passing judgment on people's personal political views.
Their actions have cost me millions of dollars in damages and I believe that a jury should be presented with all of the facts in these cases and be allowed to decide whether the actions of the grocery stores constitute a violation of the Unfair Trade Practices Act or not. This is a very important case of first impression under the Act. I believe that a jury should be allowed to consider these facts. If my business can be destroyed because my political views are not deemed to be acceptable or popular then no one is safe. If the big grocery store corporations can punish a food supplier for having what they deem to be inappropriate thoughts and opinions, we might as well be living in Communist China or the old Soviet Union. Before I began my barbecue business, as a young man I enlisted in the US Army and served my country in the infantry on the frontline of the Korean War. I fought for freedom against tyranny. Over fifty years later, my business has been devastated because I had the nerve to freely express my personal opinions. That is a travesty. I am appealing tyranny of these big corporations until I am able hopefully to get these facts to a jury of my peers where a fair and just result can be rendered after a thorough examination of all of the facts and circumstances of my cases.
Point of Contact: Maurice Bessinger Heritage Outrage - Until Now Unreported
On May 20, 2003 an SCV member (and retired Marine Corps Captain) attended a Texas Crime Stoppers seminar in Laredo, Texas.
One of the speakers, FBI Special Agent John Wise of San Antonio gave a presentation on domestic terrorism to a group of approximately 80 attendees.
When Special Agent Wise began his presentation he brought up onto a screen a large map of the United States. Small confederate flags covered the map, supposedly showing terrorist cells within the United States.
During the talk Special Agent Wise never delineated what groups these small Confederate flags supposedly represented.
When confronted by the SCV member and asked: "Are SCV members being classified as terrorists?" Wise responded: "Oh, not at all. We are concerned about such groups as the KKK, Aryan Nations, and white supremacists like them. We know the SCV isn't a terrorist group."
Special Agent Wise didn't seem at all concerned or aware that his presentation had made a graphic connection between domestic terrorists and all Southern Heritage organizations. Please visit our website at www.slrc-csa.org and click on the "How You Can Help" tab. We accept Visa , MasterCard, Discover http://www.slrc-csa.org/site/helpus.php and paypal: https://www.paypal.com/xclick/business=slrc%40slrc-csa.org
Please send in your pledge or donation today. ALL PLEDGES OR DONATIONS ARE TAX-DEDUCTIBLE!
Our address is SLRC, P.O. Box 1235, Black Mountain, NC 28711. Phone: 828-669-5189
For more background on the plaques see our Texas Plaques webpage at: http://www.slrc-csa.org/site/misc/txplaques/txplaques.php
If anyone has received this who does not wish to be on our distribution list, please let us know.
Allison Schaum
PLEASE SEND YOUR TAX-DEDUCTIBLE CONTRIBUTION TO: SOUTHERN LEGAL RESOURCE CENTER
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