Several local opponents voiced their concerns to the Milton city council during this week’s regular city council meeting regarding the council’s tabling a discussion of displaying the controversial flag on city property.
James Bradley, a member of St. John’s Missionary Baptist Church, was one of several attendees asking the city council to reconsider their previous stance on tabling the issue on whether a Confederate flag should be featured on the city’s seal and displayed on city property. Bradley said he spoke on behalf of the church’s Pastor Aramis Betts who could not attend the meeting.
Following the June 17 tragic shooting in Charleston, South Carolina in which nine people inside a African American church were killed in an alleged hate crime, the Confederate flag became a highly-debated topic across the country after online photos of alleged shooter Dylan Roof promoting the Confederate flag came to light.
Bradley said he prepared a letter for the mayor and council concerning the city’s display of the Confederate flag.
“The Milton community continues to hear reports of the current status of this vital matter that the council has either tabled, under further study, or not an issue,” Bradley said. “This scenario is unfortunately all too familiar to the black lives of Milton.
The purpose of this appeal is to raise a legitimate and pressing question to each of you,” he said. “Are you turning a blind eye and a deaf ear to the real and present grievance of our only citizens? Your answer will reflect the true extent of your commitment as a governing body to the vision and fulfillment of serving all of the people.”
Although the issue is important, Mayor Wesley Meiss reminded Bradley and other attendees of the council’s current stance on the topic.
“Although it is an important issue, the council has currently tabled the issue,” Meiss said. “We have discussed the issue at some length and perhaps will discuss it again someday, but that is totally in the council’s hands.”
Mary Ellen Johnson, one of the two African American members currently serving on the council, assured Bradley she and fellow council members would read the letter in addition to further gathering public input and other information on the topic.
“As we are collecting all of the information that would cause us to be led to the appropriate decision, I believe we would like to look at this and study the information,” Johnson said.
The city’s Public Works Director George Rials told the council the letter would be presented before the city’s administration committee at their upcoming meeting, scheduled for August 20 at 9 a.m.
This article originally appeared on Santa Rosa Press Gazette: Opponents of Confederate flag address Milton council