By Drew Stewart - bio | email
COLUMBIA, SC (WIS)- It's been nearly a decade since the Confederate flag was removed from the State House dome in a legislative compromise, but it still stirs controversy like the wind.
It's an issue the South Carolina NAACP hasn't forgotten.
The NAACP boycott began more than 10 years ago after the General Assembly refused to remove the Confederate flag off of the State House grounds.
Senator Robert Ford (D-Charleston), who is also running for the Democratic nomination for governor, says because the AME church is holding an event in Columbia next month, it means those participating think the sanctions are over.
"Now that you have these powerful black churches coming here, I think it means the boycott is over. and I think that's good news for South Carolinians," said Ford.
Ford says he sees little support for the boycott from the public.
"We got Boeing here because I explained to them there was no boycott against South Carolina that African-Americans supported," said Ford.
But Reverend Joe Darby, the Vice President of the Charleston NAACP, says Ford has no say in the matter.
"That would be like me speaking on his behalf of his campaign and saying he never should have run for governor in the first place he's terminating his campaign," said Darby.
Darby says the NAACP doesn't criticize churches for gathering in South Carolina because churches often need to hold meetings as close to home as possible, and the boycott is voluntary.
"So there would be no criticism of the gathering of Methodists because it would be a voluntary thing," said Darby.
Darby also says Ford is not active in the Charleston NAACP, and if the Senator wants to have a say in their affairs, he should join.
"If he wants to be member and have a voice he should join and make sure his membership is paid. Other than that, if he doesn't want me to declare his campaign moot and dead, then I don't think he needs to speak for the NAACP," said Darby.
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