According to members of the organization, the emblem is offensive.
“That flag does not speak for me and doesn’t speak for the rest of those folks who are standing behind me. So as far as I’m concerned, it needs to come down,” Goose Creek National Action Network president Bryan Sharp said.
James Johnson, the organizations’ statewide president, went as so far as to issue a warning that it will do whatever’s necessary to get the Confederate flag symbol off the city’s welcome signs, including a boycott.
“We will not buy in this county until the flag has been removed,” Johnson told The Post and Courier. “Our dollar speaks volumes to businesses. All we want is the hate symbol of the Confederate flag to be removed from that sign.”
Johnson says he’s reached out to Goose Creek Mayor Michael Heitzler to discuss removing the Confederate flag emblem; however, says the mayor has refused to meet with him.
“The gloves are now off,” stated Johnson.
NAN members stated Monday that if necessary they will hold marches and rallies in an effort to remove the Confederate flag emblem. They also stated that they plan to attend Goose Creek’s city council meeting Tuesday night to demand that the flag come down.
In the meantime, Heitzler has stated that the Confederate flag should stay right where it is.
“Everybody I ever knew is offended about something,” Heitzler told WCIV-TV. “Some people are offended about people because they get offended about things. We all just need to put our big boy pants on and carry on and do the right thing as Americans. Not as politically correct Americans, but as Americans who enjoy free speech.”
