Mayors Launch Website to Take Down Confederate Flag

Past Conference President Charleston Mayor Joseph P. Riley Jr. told the Conference of Mayors in Thursdays Plenary Session that a Web presence has been launched in a national effort to encourage South Carolina legislators to remove the Confederate Flag from the top of his state’s court house.

The effort – SCUnited.org – is meant to be a catalyst to bring South Carolinians together, Riley said. His effort is co-sponsored by Columbia Mayor Bob Coble. Coble said S.C United’s new Website (www.scunited.org) was an important step forward to elevate the move to remove the flag.

“We’re working for progress and speedy resolution of the flag issue through S.C. United. We’re a dedicated group of community, civic and church leaders who want to make a difference. I encourage Internet users to visit the new site and take action.”

The new site allows users to send an on-line petition to members of the South Carolina General Assembly, send e-mail letters to legislators, send letters to the editor and more. Visitors also can donate to the grassroots movement through a secure credit card transaction on the site.

Users are encourage to become “cyberactivists” and get periodic updates and news about what’s happening with the group’s efforts to remove the flag, said site designer and manager J. J. Ohlinger, managing partner of the Blue Maggie web design firm.

“This is going to be the fastest growing on-line grassroots movement in South Carolina history,” he said. “Sign up now to become a part of history.”

Riley and Coble formed S.C. United in September as an attempt to spur progress on removing the flag from the Statehouse dome. Ohlinger said SCUnited.org is modeled after the successful national on-line project MoveOn.org