‘Freedom of speech is crucial, but so is the symbolic power of public monuments’

BY MILES LAYTON

As most folks know, a Confederate heritage rally organized by the Tarheel Flaggers and the Southern Independence Association is set to take place Saturday, August 9, at the Confederate Memorial, located at the intersection of South Broad Street and West Water Street.

I suspect this is going to be a “thing.” Since Scott Perry is knowledgeable about these folks, I will include his thoughts on the matter. 

Also, Town Council candidate Regina Bond shared her view of the statue in a social media post Wednesday. Yes, there is a municipal election ahead in November so the matter of this memorial continues to be a matter of discussion, ugly billboards and debate in our town.

I deeply value the First Amendment and the right to peaceful expression, including the right of those who support the Confederate monument to protest. However, this statue, located at a site where enslaved people were once traded, carries a painful legacy. Many long-time residents, myself included, believe it casts a shadow over one of our most visible public spaces.

Once a symbol to reinforce Jim Crow laws, this statue no longer reflects the Edenton we want to be. To those who wish to preserve it under the banner of history or heritage, I respect your right to free speech. However, the public square should represent all in our community, not perpetuate symbols that many find demeaning.

Freedom of speech is crucial, but so is the symbolic power of public monuments. A statue that intimidates and excludes no longer belongs at the heart of our town. I am committed to moving Edenton forward, not by erasing history, but by elevating the values of courage, resilience, and equality that truly define us. 

Worth noting, Bond’s opponent, Craig Miller, along with the rest of Town Council, signed off on the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) earlier this year — same as the Chowan County Board of Commissioners. And I might add, since the mainstream media is too woke to recognize it, Town Council and County Commission members include African-Americans.

The MOU outlines the relocation of the Confederate monument from its current location at the end of South Broad Street (near the municipal building) to Veterans Park, behind the Chowan County Courthouse. 

Last week, the Sons of Confederate Veterans, Edenton Bell Battery, endorsed the MOU that could determine the future of Edenton’s Confederate Memorial to 47 souls from Chowan County who died during the Civil War.

Billed as “Rebels at the Battery,” the event will begin at 11 a.m. and continue throughout the day. A flyer for the gathering invites “fellow flaggers” to join in making their “voices heard at the Edenton, NC Confederate Monument.” Town Statement on the matter — click here.

The Confederate heritage rally is organized by the Tarheel Flaggers and the Southern Independence Association.

The Association says on its Facebook page that “We are an organization to re-establish our Southern values and culture, and to assert our states’ 10th Amendment rights. We are non-violent and non-racist.”

The rally is expected to draw participants from across the state and possibly beyond, as supporters of Confederate monuments continue to mobilize in opposition to their removal or relocation.

“They are coming here on their own accord due to the exposure our suit against the Town in print and social media,” Michael Dean, Commander, SCV Edenton Bell Battery said.

It remains unclear whether counter-protesters will be present at the August 9 event but…they didn’t miss a beat protesting on Easter weekend… Some of those folks don’t need an excuse to protest.  

From Scott Perry:  

I write to you with a heavy heart and a sober mind as we approach this weekend. There’s a protest scheduled for Saturday, August 9th, at The Rebel at the Battery, and I urge you to think carefully before attending. There’s a lot of talk about unity and standing for freedom, but history has shown us that rash actions in the name of patriotism often backfire — and those left holding the bag are not the ones who stirred the pot.

The Founding Fathers believed in protest, yes — but in lawful, structured protest. They built this republic on petitions, public meetings, civic discourse, and the written word, not on chaos in the streets. Men like George Washington, James Madison, and John Adams viewed liberty and responsibility as inextricably linked. When protests turned unruly — such as during the Whiskey Rebellion — they acted to restore order. They did not want the republic governed by street mobs or loud provocateurs. What they envisioned was a republic governed by thoughtful citizens, not radicals seeking to stir up trouble and then flee the consequences.

And consequences will come. I’ve seen this play out before: those who shout the loudest about resistance and revolution are often the first to vanish when the authorities show up. If things go sideways on Saturday — and make no mistake, they very well might — you’ll find yourself alone. Alone in cuffs, eating powdered eggs in a holding cell, being moved from one facility to another in the back of a diesel-powered van, while the keyboard warriors and armchair rebels post memes about liberty from the comfort of their living rooms. Your attorney will be scrambling to find you, shouting “Habeas corpus!” while your so-called brothers-in-arms explain to the police, “I told him not to get so radical.”

Let’s not forget the snakes of the 1960s — self-declared revolutionaries who convinced others to sacrifice for empty causes. They called for civil disobedience, but when the cuffs came out, they disappeared, or worse — they flipped. It’s no different today. Some of you have heard whispers of civil war, as though it’s a romantic notion. Let me tell you something clearly and without hesitation: I have lived through a civil war. And I say with all sincerity — no thank you.

You may also be reminded of the Fire-Eaters — those radical voices in the early 19th century who demanded secession almost before the ink on the Constitution had dried. They moved from South Carolina to Virginia, stirring division and disunion. But where were they when the fighting started — at the Battle of Big Bethel, for instance? Nowhere to be found. They pushed others into conflict and then melted into the background. That’s how it goes. On Sunday morning, when you’re in lock-up with two silver bracelets on your wrists and your name on a docket, they’ll be hiding behind fences and Facebook profiles, pretending they were never involved.

Not advocating isn’t cowardice but is wisdom. A call to act like the Founders — to use your voice in lawful ways, to hold your government accountable through civil means, not reckless theatrics. A call to recognize that real change happens through influence, education, and civic duty, not by walking into a legal trap set in the name of “freedom.” The ones who ask you to sacrifice rarely pay the cost themselves. So I urge you: stay home. Stay out of it. And stay smart.

Because once the sirens fade and the crowd scatters, you’ll be the one left paying the price — while the snakes slither away, just like they always have.