Senator Mike Phelps said, "For years West Virginians have been called poor white trash. We want to clean up our act and image by doing away with something that is deemed as offensive to an ever growing segment of our population. Decades ago there were not many blacks in West Virginia so it was not a problem. But, we realize now that it would be hurtful to be black and have your neighbor fly a confederate flag. I understand that the Confederate flag has historic value and meaning other than racial implications but we do not think it is too much to ask for our citizens to be sensitive for one month out of the year."
Charles Jackson, President of The NCAAP of West Virginia agrees, "It doesn't make up for whites holding our people as slave all of those years but it will be refreshing not to see this symbol of redneckism and racism flying in our faces for a month. There is nothing more disgraceful then to see some cracker driving down the street in a broken down pickup truck blaring Hank Williams Jr with a hound dog in the back and a reneck flag waving."
Vern Graham disagrees, "They don't understand our flag. Our relatives may have lost but they died for us to have the right to wave our flag proudly for twelve months out of the year, not just eleven. Robert E. Lee is rolling in his grave. I knew as soon as we got a black president this would happen. Not that I have anything against Obama, I think he'll go down as one of America's best presidents ...I'm just saying."
The offical banning of the Confederate flag is projected as being a way for West Virginians to clean up the reputation they have as being insensitive hillbillies. Phelps said, "At least this puts us ahead of Virginians and Georgians."
The ban will start February 1st and end each year on March 1st. The law is just for public display as of now, but the NCAAP is pushing for all flags even those in private homes and trucks to be removed.
