We didn't hang that flag, say fraternity/Greenville, NC

[Jill1228]

Yes I went to ECU and this makes me wanna holler....

http://www.reflector.com/local/conte...4_06_flag.html

We didn't hang that flag, say fraternity

By Jennifer White
The Daily Reflector

Friday, August 04, 2006

Members of Pi Kappa Phi fraternity said they were not responsible for displaying a Confederate flag Saturday during a march on East Fifth Street.

Several Greenville community groups marched from Greensprings Park to Greenville City Hall to support renaming East Fifth Street to honor Martin Luther King Jr.

As they walked by, five white men stood in the doorway of a house at 703 E. Fifth St., and one yelled, "Fifth Street rules!" A Confederate flag was displayed on the upstairs balcony.

The Rev. Ozie Lee Hall Jr. sent letters on Wednesday night to Greenville City Manager Wayne Bowers, East Carolina University Chancellor Steve Ballard and the CEO of Pi Kappa Phi fraternity asking them to investigate the incident.

The men involved had not been identified as members of Pi Kappa Phi, but pictures taken of the house during the march show a vehicle with a Pi Kappa Phi sticker in the front yard. One of the men in the photograph also was wearing a Pi Kappa Phi T-shirt.

Scott Wagoner, 24, Pi Kappa Phi vice president and an ECU senior, said that no members of Pi Kappa Phi were involved in the incident.

"The Beta Phi chapter of Pi Kappa Phi is outraged by the association implicated with the trouble-makers during Saturday's march," he said.

ECU senior Dan Apelian, 21, a Pi Kappa Phi member, lives in one of four two-bedroom apartments at the house where the incident took place. He said he was not involved in displaying the flag or yelling at marchers.

"Pi Kappa Phi has a couple black fraternity members, so it's bothering me when they're calling me up and saying, 'Did you hang a Confederate flag?'" he said. "What it stands for to me is racism. They're (the black fraternity members) my best friends. I would never do that."

Apelian said he was at home Saturday when neighbors knocked at his door to tell him about the march. They said they were going to hang a Confederate flag from the house's upstairs balcony, he recalled.

Apelian declined to get involved, he said. He explained Thursday that he's lived in the apartment for two months and does not know his neighbors well. He added they are not affiliated with the fraternity.

"I don't want my windows getting broken and my house getting trashed, so I just went inside," Apelian said. "I wanted nothing to do with it."

Hall said he is considering filing a formal complaint about the incident with the U.S. Department of Justice, Civil Rights Division or the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

"The Confederate battle flag, coupled with the derision and epithets, was alarming to many of the marchers," Hall said in a letter. "It is well-known that the flag is used as a symbol by some white supremacist hate groups."

[shinerbock]

To investigate? Like this is a criminal act? Ridiculous.

[Scandia]

I would understand if it had been a Nazi flag- and that's what I honestly thought upon first reading it.

But a Confederate flag? It stands for the heritage of the South. It is not automatically stating "down with (insert group here)".

Derision and epithets are a sign of hatred. A Confederate flag is not.

[Honeykiss1974]

So the whole intent/purpose of doing this (hanging the flag/yelling like an idiot) was for what?? Obviously whomever hung the flag during this event has a differing opinion from you two as to what it means. Afterall, I don't recall the flag meaning "we support Dr. King".....but then again, I am from Mississippi so maybe we missed that version.

Anyway, I do think that an "investigation" should not be done. It's not illegal to be an idiot or to lack common courtesy.

[Elephant Walk]

What exactly is the crime here?

Free speech?

No big news, free speech has been relatively destroyed.

[shinerbock]

In my opinion, and experience, confederate flags are often used as a sort of protest. It isnt white power or anything, but rather a response to something they feel is unjust. For example, similar things happened regarding Atlanta renaming Hartsfield to Hartsfield jackson. I'm sure sometimes it is from racism, but sometimes I think it is simply rebellion.

[amanda6035]

hartsfield jackson Dont even get me started. ridiculous.

[sigmadiva]

Originally Posted by Scandia

I would understand if it had been a Nazi flag- and that's what I honestly thought upon first reading it.

But a Confederate flag? It stands for the heritage of the South. It is not automatically stating "down with (insert group here)".

Derision and epithets are a sign of hatred. A Confederate flag is not.

For many African-Americans, the Confederate flag is just as offensive as a Nazi flag would be to the Jews. I am sure that there are still some Germans who feel that the Nazi flag also represents part of their heritage, so using your argument, they (current Nazi-Germans) can also feel justified in displaying it.

While I do agree that the Confederate flag does / can represent the heritage of the South, part of that heritage was based on slave labor. Slave labor of my ancestors. So no, you won't see me running around flying the Confederate flag. I also view the Confederate flag as a sign of hatred because it is usually carried by the KKK.

And, this being the US, I may not agree with what you say, but I will fight for your right to say it, because one day, I may want to say something too.....

[shinerbock]

^Good call.

On a side note, another flag usually carried by the KKK looks like this

[PKPILZ003]

Originally Posted by shinerbock

^Good call.

On a side note, another flag usually carried by the KKK looks like this

that's why i left the Klan out of this - they are not just Southern - seeing that the biggest Klan base for most of the 20th Century was in Indiana - and they are just idiots, they hate everyone unless you are pure white protestant and can prove "no mongrel blood"

shiner, regardless of what anyone says, you're OK - a little crazy sometime, but you when you put your thoughts in clear concise points you tend to make sense.

[starang21]

Originally Posted by shinerbock

^Good call.

On a side note, another flag usually carried by the KKK looks like this

many times without the hood.

[sigmadiva]

Originally Posted by shinerbock

^Good call.

On a side note, another flag usually carried by the KKK looks like this

True. But, these people are also Americans, and that flag, the American flag, represents their right to protest and free speech. My ancestors and past and current family members have fought and died to protect their, meaning the KKK's, right to demonstrate as they want. A little thing called freedom.

The Confederate flag did no such thing. Part of the heritage that the Confederate flag represents is one of oppression and hate where freedom for a certain ethnic group was not allowed.

[starang21]

what a stupid investigation.

these kids should stop back-peddling and stick to their guns. if that's how the feel, that's how they feel.

[Kevlar281]

And this is why I fly Bonnie Blue.

[LightBulb]

Originally Posted by Kevlar281

And this is why I fly Bonnie Blue.

The light blue Confederate flag? I didn't know it had a name.