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Yahoo
28-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
5 States That Insist On Celebrating Confederate Memorial Day Every... Single... Year
Even though it's been 160 years since the Civil War ended, Black Americans are still feeling the effects of the war that almost tore the nation apart over slavery. The pain and betrayal stemming from the Civil War continues to be a sore spot of conversation in the country, so of course when several southern states continue to celebrate Confederate Memorial Day, it cuts a little deeper. The holiday was created to honor fallen Confederate soldiers. Georgia was the first state to mark Confederate Memorial Day as a state holiday, according to Savannah Now. It wasn't until the the Charleston 9 Massacre that former Ga. Gov. Nathan Deal eliminated Confederate Memorial Day in his state, citing its offensive history. Elizabeth Rutherford Ellis is typically regarded as the mastermind behind the so-called great holiday. She chose April 26, which is also the first anniversary of Confederate Gen. Johnston's surrender to Union Major Gen. Sherman, as Confederate Memorial Day. Since then, several states have adopted the commemoration. Here's a list of several states that still celebrate. Every fourth Monday in April is celebrated as Confederate Memorial Day in Alabama, according to WHNT. That means today, April 28, is recognized as an official holiday in the state. Alabama's history with the holiday goes back to 1901, when Confederate Memorial Day was made a state holiday, according to the Encyclopedia of Alabama. Interestingly enough, this is one of three Confederate-related state holidays celebrated. Alabama also celebrates Robert E. Lee Day in January and Confederate President Jefferson Davis' birthday in June. Like other southern states, Florida added Confederate Memorial Day as an official holiday in 1895, along with Gen. Lee's birthday, according to Today, the sunshine state celebrates the holiday every year on April 26. Texas celebrates Confederate Heroes Day on Jan. 19. According to the Texas Tribune, the holiday honors the lives of the Confederate president and Gen. Lee. Texas used to separate the birthdays of Davis and Lee with different holidays, but in 1973, they decided to consolidated into Confederate Heroes Day. As you can expect, every year this holiday is celebrated, it's also met with backlash from folks who view Confederate Heroes Day as disrespectful to the legacy of slavery. In 2023, a bill was filed to get rid of the holiday. Rep. Christina Morales said 'We cannot stand by as our state continues to formally celebrate and glorify the men who believed so deeply that Black men and women did not have rights, that they would go to war.' When Confederate Memorial Day is celebrated in Mississippi, government workers also get paid for their holiday off. Pushback surrounding the day has been championed by leaders like Sen. Derrick Simmons, who said the holiday is racist and 'awful for Mississippians.' He even wrote an op-ed for Mississippi Today saying, 'Celebrating Confederate Memorial Day is not only racist but is bad policy, bad governance and a deep stain on the values we claim to uphold today.' May 10 marks the annual Confederate Memorial Day in South Carolina. According to Greenville Online, on this day, state offices and other businesses in the state are closed. Recently, there have been efforts to get rid of the holiday. In 2022, lawmakers proposed replacing Confederate Memorial Day with Juneteenth, celebrated on June 19. For the latest news, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
Yahoo
03-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Georgia lawmakers pass religious freedom bill despite discrimination concerns
ATLANTA (AP) — Lawmakers in Georgia's House passed a controversial bill Wednesday that aims to protect people's rights to express their religion, but that critics say could lead to discrimination. Modeled after the federal Religious Freedom Restoration Act, the bill would prevent governments from impeding on someone's religious rights in most cases and stop the enforcement of laws that conflict with someone's religious expression. The Republican-led state House approved the bill 96-70. But Democrats — including those who spoke about their Christian faith — said that without added protections, the bill will let people discriminate against LGBTQ+ people and religious minorities. Two Republicans voted against it, while one Democrat supported it. The bill passed Wednesday is similar to a highly contested one that former Gov. Nathan Deal vetoed in 2016 amid widespread protests and concerns from Georgia's business community that it would hurt their ability to attract employees and tourists. The Metro Atlanta Chamber opposed this year's bill. Bill sponsor Sen. Ed Setzler, a Republican from Acworth, called Deal a 'hero' for vetoing the earlier proposal. He said the new bill, designed in part by current Republican Gov. Brian Kemp's staff, is less extreme. 'Every Georgian should be free to exercise their faith without unfair federal, state and local government intrusion,' Setzler said at a news conference Tuesday. He said the bill "protects ordinary people from unfair state and local government intrusion.' Kemp commended the bill's passage in a statement and promised to sign it. The Senate passed the bill on March 4. At least 29 states have similar laws. Opponents are concerned that the bill could lead to discrimination in a state that doesn't have a comprehensive civil rights law many states do. Opponents also say more religious protections aren't necessary. When pressed during a House Judiciary committee meeting, Setzler could not name a case where someone's religious liberties were violated in a way that would require the bill's protections. 'We are swatting at imaginary flies, and I'm sick of it,' Atlanta Democratic Rep. Stacey Evans said Wednesday. Supporters say the bill would not override local civil rights protections imposed by a handful of Georgia municipalities. 'This is not a license of private citizens to discriminate against private citizens,' said Republican Rep. Tyler Paul Smith, who presented the bill in the House. 'This prohibits the government from burning religious exercise in our state.' Two Republicans, Rep. Deborah Silcox of Sandy Springs Rep. Stan Gunter of Blairsville, joined Democrats in voting against the measure in an earlier House Judiciary committee meeting. Silcox tried to add an anti-discrimination measure to the bill but that didn't pass. She voted against the bill on the House floor, but Gunter voted for it. ___ Charlotte Kramon is a corps member for The Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues. Follow Kramon on X: @charlottekramon. Charlotte Kramon, The Associated Press
Associated Press
03-04-2025
- Politics
- Associated Press
Georgia lawmakers pass religious freedom bill despite discrimination concerns
ATLANTA (AP) — Lawmakers in Georgia's House passed a controversial bill Wednesday that aims to protect people's rights to express their religion, but that critics say could lead to discrimination. Modeled after the federal Religious Freedom Restoration Act, the bill would prevent governments from impeding on someone's religious rights in most cases and stop the enforcement of laws that conflict with someone's religious expression. The Republican-led state House approved the bill 96-70. But Democrats — including those who spoke about their Christian faith — said that without added protections, the bill will let people discriminate against LGBTQ+ people and religious minorities. Two Republicans voted against it, while one Democrat supported it. The bill passed Wednesday is similar to a highly contested one that former Gov. Nathan Deal vetoed in 2016 amid widespread protests and concerns from Georgia's business community that it would hurt their ability to attract employees and tourists. The Metro Atlanta Chamber opposed this year's bill. Bill sponsor Sen. Ed Setzler, a Republican from Acworth, called Deal a 'hero' for vetoing the earlier proposal. He said the new bill, designed in part by current Republican Gov. Brian Kemp's staff, is less extreme. 'Every Georgian should be free to exercise their faith without unfair federal, state and local government intrusion,' Setzler said at a news conference Tuesday. He said the bill 'protects ordinary people from unfair state and local government intrusion.' Kemp commended the bill's passage in a statement and promised to sign it. The Senate passed the bill on March 4. At least 29 states have similar laws. Opponents are concerned that the bill could lead to discrimination in a state that doesn't have a comprehensive civil rights law many states do. Opponents also say more religious protections aren't necessary. When pressed during a House Judiciary committee meeting, Setzler could not name a case where someone's religious liberties were violated in a way that would require the bill's protections. 'We are swatting at imaginary flies, and I'm sick of it,' Atlanta Democratic Rep. Stacey Evans said Wednesday. Supporters say the bill would not override local civil rights protections imposed by a handful of Georgia municipalities. 'This is not a license of private citizens to discriminate against private citizens,' said Republican Rep. Tyler Paul Smith, who presented the bill in the House. 'This prohibits the government from burning religious exercise in our state.' Two Republicans, Rep. Deborah Silcox of Sandy Springs Rep. Stan Gunter of Blairsville, joined Democrats in voting against the measure in an earlier House Judiciary committee meeting. Silcox tried to add an anti-discrimination measure to the bill but that didn't pass. She voted against the bill on the House floor, but Gunter voted for it.
