Agenda - 06-05-2018 8-a - Minutes

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11 John Roberts said yes, that is the way it is written now, but it is subject to the Board’s 1 approval. 2 3 A motion was made by Commissioner McKee, seconded by Commissioner Price to 4 open the public hearing. 5 6 VOTE: UNANIMOUS 7 8 PUBLIC COMMENT: 9 10 Craig Carter thanked the Commissioners for serving on this board, and said his father 11 knew Commissioner McKee. He said he is a great-grandson of a Confederate soldier, and has 12 lost many relatives in past wars. He said the flag is not a racial issue, and the large flag that 13 has been a source of complaints is really a finger to the Board about the siting of the 14 forthcoming detention center. He said he understands both sides of the debate, and he does 15 not care. He said the flag that is flying is not a confederate flag, but a battle flag of Virginia. He 16 said the fire department in his district does not even fly a flag. He said rather than debating flag 17 issues, he would like an ambulance out in the northern part of the County. He said this flag 18 issue will go away, and there are more important things to be focusing on. He said there are a 19 lot of historical houses in downtown Hillsborough, and there are no monuments to the slaves 20 who built much of Orange County. He said it is a waste to be discussing issues like the size of 21 flags. 22 Alva Cravey said a town called Chapel Hill dominates the community, and the local 23 product is a University of North Carolina (UNC) graduate. She said she has worked at UNC for 24 24 years, and UNC is a public constitution, which is struggling with its legacy of elitism. She 25 said the school was built for the white sons of wealthy slave owners, and elitism is the reason 26 that there is a monument to the Confederacy on a pedestal. She said the monument on 27 campus has been a lightning rod for violence, and these mega size Confederate flags are part 28 of the problem. She said the Confederate monument was put up in 1913, as a reminder of the 29 Jim Crow order, and that all should remain in their place. She thanked the Board of County 30 Commissioners for their leadership in considering this ordinance. She said the public roadways 31 should be places that welcome all citizens, and this ordinance supports this. 32 James Ward said he is against this proposed ordinance. He said although the proposed 33 amendment is content neutral, he feels this is a transparent attempt to act against the 160 year 34 old confederate battle flag. He said the issue of giant flags never would have arisen if not for 35 actions and efforts in recent years to ban all things confederate in Orange County. He said 36 signs have been removed from buildings, Confederate items are no longer allowed in the 37 school systems, and there have been persistent attempts to remove the Confederate memorial 38 statue at UNC. He said the charge that these items are threatening is baseless, and the anti-39 confederate movement has engendered a lot of resentment and anger within the community. 40 He said a reaction was predictable. He said Orange County desires to be diverse and 41 welcoming to all types, and he agrees with this sentiment. He said this attitude should be 42 extended to all residents; even those who wish only to honor the legacy and memory of 43 forefathers. He asked the BOCC to deny this proposed amendment. 44 Robert Randall said John Roberts said that Orange County cannot regulate the content 45 of flags, because that content falls under the first amendment right to free speech. He said this 46 whole issue would not be discussed if it were not for the Confederate flag on Highway 70. He 47 says he has no affinity for the Confederate flag, and has no desire to fly one on his own 48 property, but he feels this proposed amendment is limiting of free speech. He said the flag is 49 offensive to some, but being offended should never trump constitutional rights. He asked the 50