Heated debate turns to Confederate flag

Flags ordered removed from meeting room; no action taken on monument

Georgia NAACP President Dr. Francys Johnson, at podium, speaking on behalf of client James "Major" Woodall, to his right, speaks to an overflow crowd as Confederate memorial statue and flag supporters stand behind him at the Bulloch County Board of Commissioners scheduled meeting Tuesday evening. Woodall was there to present a petition asking the commission to remove the statue from the Bulloch County Courthouse lawn.

commission lede — Georgia NAACP President Dr. Francys Johnson, at podium, speaking on behalf of client James "Major" Woodall, to his right, speaks to an overflow crowd as Confederate memorial statue and flag supporters stand behind him at the Bulloch County Board of Commissioners scheduled meeting Tuesday evening. Woodall was there to present a petition asking the commission to remove the statue from the Bulloch County Courthouse lawn.

Following an intense discussion with references to the Nazi swastika, the flag of the terrorist group Isis and the U.S. Constitution, people carrying Confederate battle flags inside the Bulloch County Commission meeting room Tuesday were asked to leave after a unanimous vote. Commissioners, however, took no action regarding a petition to remove a Confederate soldier memorial from the county courthouse square. A standing-room only crowd of about 100 inside Commission chambers and another 30 in the hallway attended the regular meeting of the commission, mostly because of a public forum regarding a petition requesting the removal of the statue of a Confederate soldier that stands on the southwestern corner of the courthouse square.

Local

Local