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URGENT NOTICE: Discrimination against the Sons of Confederate Veterans in Pickens. As of yesterday the 2nd SC Regiment Camp 71, SCV has been excluded from the Pickens Azalea Festival to be held Saturday, April 18. This festival is held on public property in Pickens. The Pickens City Police on the city payroll provide security. Our camp has been in attendance at this event for the past 6 consecutive years. We sent in our check and application before the deadline of March 13. Our check was returned with a letter attached denying us a booth. Letter of denial attached. Assistant Adjutant Daniel Buckhiester has spoken with Michael Chastain (address below) of the Pickens Civitan Club. Mr. Chastain explained that we were denied representation because of the controversy caused by the Confederate Battle Flag and our association with this flag. He was honest in stating this as the reason. The Southern Legal Resource Center has been retained as legal counsel. Pickens Civitan Club Michael B. Chastain P. O. Box 44 815 Sliding Rock Rd. Pickens, SC 29671 Pickens, SC 29671 878-4512 (home) 878-4791(work - hospital)Pickens Mayor and City Council members. Pickens City Hall Norman L. Kennemer, Mayor 219 Pendleton St. 111 Glassy Mt. St. Pickens, SC 29671 Pickens, SC 29671 878-6421 878-2930 (home) Council June Bowers, Council 124 Blacksnake Rd. 270 Lakeview Drive Pickens, SC 29671 Pickens, SC 29671 878-9125 (home) 878-9925 (home) Council George Boney, Council 306 Liberty Dr. 627 Johnson St. Pickens, SC 29671 Pickens, SC 29671 878-9361 (home) 878-9664 (home) Ted Shehan, Council 151 Hagood St. 227 Ann St. Pickens, SC 29671 Pickens, SC 29671 878-9718 (home) 878-2289 (home) Larry A. Martin, SC Senator from Pickens P. O. Box 247 232 Florence St. Pickens, SC 29671 Pickens, SC 29671 878-6105 (home) 803-212-6140 (capitol) 878-3920 (home) 803-734-3036 (capitol)Camp 71, SCV is a contributor to the good of Pickens County. In the past several years Camp 71 has given a $500 scholarship to a Pickens County graduating senior who continued their education into college. We have donated books to the county library. We exclude from membership in our camp any that are members of the KKK or kindred organizations. We have worked with the Pickens County Historical Society by setting up living history at the Hagood Mauldin House to help attract attention and money for the restoration of this historic house. We are presently working with Historical Society by collecting the names of Confederate soldiers from the Pickens District who were killed in action or died during the War Between the States. Our members donate their time to do living histories in the schools of the county. We sponsor a Civil War reenactment the first weekend of June each year. Individually our God fearing, law-abiding members contribute taxes and time to the betterment of Pickens County and the city of Pickens. This is a clear case of the violation of the civil rights of the Sons of Confederate Veterans. This festival is held on public property and the Police of the City of Pickens provide security. To our knowledge no other non-profit organization has been excluded. We ask for your support in this matter. Please use the attached names, addresses and phone numbers for this purpose. Sincerely, Le Roy Caudell, Commander Camp 71 |
Sons of Confederate Veterans