Spartanburg County: Pole with SC flag that replaced Confederate on I-85 still in violation
The large Confederate flag that flew near Interstate 85 in Spartanburg County the past two weeks has been replaced with the South Carolina state flag, but it's still in violation, according to county officials.
"It is the pole that is in violation, not the flag," County Councilman David Britt said Thursday. "If they come into compliance, the can fly any flag they choose."
Two weeks ago, members of the Adam Washington Ballenger Sons of Confederate Veterans Camp 68 raised a Confederate flag on a parcel they own near I-85, Business 85 and U.S. 221.
The flag can be seen by an estimated 80,400 vehicles that pass by it on I-85 every day.
In response, the county code enforcement office issued a notice of violation to the group, ordering the flagpole to be removed by Nov. 10, Britt said.
On Wednesday, the flag was replaced with the South Carolina state flag.
"Our 1999 land use ordinance on accessory uses without a principal use, i.e. home or business, states the flagpole violates the ordinance and the must come into compliance," Britt said.
The lot is vacant, thus the flagpole is in noncompliance. If a home or business were to be located there and obtain a permit "for a principal use of the property," then it would comply with the ordinance, he said.
"It doesn't matter if it's the American flag or the flag of Sweden," Britt said.
Robert Merting, attorney for Confederate Veterans Camp 68, could not be reached Thursday or Friday to say if the group intends to comply with the county's order.
According to a Facebook post last week, the group said it planned to "fly a variety of historical flags" under which Southern soldiers fought.
Britt said the flag issue has stirred a lot of emotions.
"We have received feedback from people on both sides of the issue, some that support the flagpole and some that don't," Britt said.
He said there may be other properties in the county that are in violation of the code to, but unless it is reported, the county doesn't respond.
"We don't go around looking for it," he said. "There are 850 square miles in the county."
Among groups offended by the high-flying 30-by-50-foot is the NAACP West Spartanburg chapter.
"For many groups, especially African-Americans, the Confederate flag symbolizes hate, racism, exclusion, oppression and violence," the group recently posted on its Facebook page. "Its symbolism and history are directly linked to millions of African Americans' enslavement, torture and death."
This article originally appeared on Herald-Journal: SC flag replaces Confederate flag on I-85 in Spartanburg County
