Police Seek Suspects Who Left Confederate Flags Near MLK's Atlanta Church

[mikesimon]

Police Seek Suspects Who Left Confederate Flags Near MLK's Atlanta Church

Federal authorities are investigating Confederate flags that were left early Thursday around two historic sites in Atlanta.

Surveillance video captured two white males placing the rebel banners around the campus of the Ebenezer Baptist Church and the Martin Luther King Jr. Center for Nonviolent Social Change, Atlanta Police Chief George Turner said at a news conference.

At least four flags were found. Authorities have not determined what charges, if any, would be filed, but they have not ruled out the stunt as a possible hate crime.

"We have taken physical evidence and are doing analysis right now," Turner said.

One of the flags was placed underneath a sign in the window of Ebenezer Baptist — a historic black church where King once preached — that reads, "Black Lives Matter." The slogan has become a rallying cry in the past year following high-profile cases of police brutality in minority communities.

Another flag was placed on the path to the MLK Visitor Center.

Rev. Raphael Warnock of Ebenezer Baptist Church called the flags a "hateful act."

"This is a sickening and troubling and provocative act," Warnock told NBC News. "Coming on the heels of the Charleston massacre … you have to take something like this seriously."

Dylann Roof, the white man who fatally shot nine parishioners at a historically black church in Charleston, South Carolina, posted photos online posing with Confederate flags. South Carolina lawmakers also moved to taken down the flag from the Statehouse earlier this month.

Atlanta authorities say they have strong evidence to help find the suspects. The surveillance video is also expected to be released soon.

Church officials said King considered Ebenezer Baptist, which was founded in 1886, his home.

"To place a Confederate flag on our campus is a political statement," Warnock added. "When we are afraid, when we are concerned, church is where we go. We need to get together now more than ever."

http://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/confederate-flags-placed-near-martin-luther-king-jr-s-church-n401086

[brice1967]

All the more reason to let it be known and then some of the fake racism can be put to bed.  Nobody need to fan those flames.

[R Glass]

"I think placing a flag there was done to evoke a specific response and it did"  Don't be surprised if it turns out to be a "non-white."

[brice1967]

I think placing a flag there was done to evoke a specific response and it did what it was intended to do.  I also think it was a jerk move and wish people who chose to do things like this would not try to do it under the guise of anonymity.  

It doesn't even seem as if you are true to your 'cause' if you are sneaking around.  It's chicken ****, really.

[el_em_en_oh]

Why inflame an already inflamed situation... good point.

But still... i just don't care enouigh to make a big deal about a piece of cloth, being put on a piece of land.

I'm sure MLK could give a crap that there's a confederate flag on "his" piece of land.

I just don't care. that flag offends the black community, and white people have to come to their rescue, or risk being called racist.

so... because i don't care, am i a racist?

(i mean, i AM a racist, but would you think me one, just because I don't give a crap about the flag? just curious)

[hrsepwrguy]

"They put a flag on a piece of land!!! "

There is more to it than that.

"(it's only got meaning if you GIVE it meaning)"

Well their giving meaning when they do stuff like that. Why inflame an already bad situation? I'm from the south, born and raised, I"m pro flag but stunts like this are helping NO ONE. Anyone pro flag should want to see this type of behavior stopped.

[el_em_en_oh]

Oh no's!
They put a flag on a piece of land!!!
STRING THEM UP!!!!!!!

(it's only got meaning if you GIVE it meaning)

[hrsepwrguy]

Malicious trespassing would work for me too, I do think they need to be caught and charged with something though.

[mikesimon]

I agree that it is a stretch but I'm not that knowledgeable about hate crimes. I detest the act but I'm troubled that it might rise to the level of "HATE CRIME".
Trespass? I'm fine with that or Malicious Tresspass if such a crime exists.

[hrsepwrguy]

Well I must say that I do not approve of this type of behavior, people like this who just want to antagonize the situation should be dealt with accordingly.

I do have to ask just what could they be charged for, trespassing perhaps, I see the hate crime charge mentioned but I think that it would be really hard to get that to stick.