"We're not in the south." – Phoenix Walmart manager explaining why Confederate flags were never available there. https://t.co/iM5D0fMlNs
— Bob Schooley (@Rschooley) July 8, 2015
Miriam Wasser, at Phoenix New Times, has the true eye:
What began as a pro-Confederate flag and anti-Walmart protest Sunday afternoon quickly devolved into a tit-for-tat screaming match between protesters and counter-protesters about race relations, the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, Citizens United, the military-industrial complex, food stamps, Nazi Germany, and, interestingly, sheep — one self-declared “patriot” with a bullhorn screamed “baaa, baaa” at his opponents, a reference to them being nothing more than mindless followers.
The gathering began around 2:45 p.m. in the parking lot outside a North Phoenix Walmart with a few dozen individuals, and it was intended to be part of a nationwide day of action to celebrate the Confederate flag and protest Walmart’s decision to stop selling them. The relatively peaceful event fizzled, re-combusted, and fizzled again throughout the afternoon, lasting until about 5:30. Police estimate between 75 and 100 people were in attendance at the height of the protest.
The original call to action on social media went largely unnoticed last week until counter-protesters formed their own Facebook group and announced they were planning to burn Confederate and American flags. At least at the beginning of the protest, the majority of people came to do whatever was necessary to prevent anyone from harming Old Glory — even if that meant “spending a night in jail,” as one man put it.
According to those gathered in the parking lot, a young man dressed in black and standing nearby threatened to destroy an American flag but left around 3 p.m. (Neither New Times nor the Phoenix Police Department saw this individual, but protesters say he was there and quickly congratulated themselves on the defeat of their opponent.)…
Meanwhile, the small group of counter-protesters gathered at a nearby McDonald’s decided to provoke the patriots and silently marched by them, soliciting the furious reaction they most likely intended. The pro-American flag wavers must have called for their buddies to return, because almost out of nowhere, the parking lot once again teemed with people…
At 3:40 p.m., Walmart management, accompanied by the plainclothes Phoenix Police Community Response Squad, kicked everyone out of the parking lot after enough customers complained about the presence…
Just as a portion of the police presence began to leave the scene, a crowd gathered once again because a counter-protester ripped up a homemade pink confederate flag. Both sides were up in each other’s faces, screaming insults and profanity. They stood by a bus stop on Bell Road, a few hundred yards from the edge of the Walmart parking lot, as on-lookers watched. The police occasionally separated individuals who appeared ready to fight, but despite a lot of rhetoric and calls to “hold me back,” no one threw a punch.
While people intially gathered for various reasons, at this point the day became a verbal sparring match and a tornado of competing Amendment rights. Both sides attempted to provoke the other with taunts and insults. There were a lot of American flags, and a lot of black bandanas, though perhaps the most festive costume was worn by a young counter-protester, who told New Times he was dressed as a late 1960s East German Stasi enlisted man. Suffice it to say that the pro-American flag protesters did not take well to “the Nazi costume.”…
Lieutenant Randy Force of the Phoenix Police said the department received information about the possibility of a demonstration near Walmart earlier in the day, and sent a handful of officers to the scene around 2 p.m. They increased their presence after realizing the crowd was a bit larger than had been rumored.
“We’re here to protect everyone’s rights,” Force said. “Walmart’s rights as a private corporation, and everyone’s First and Second Amendment rights.”…
And the Coca-Cola Corporation, too also. Priorities!
(You should most definitely click the link, because even the news photos are hilarious.)
Little Boots
ELO:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xFljpJdYRKM
Little Boots
anger
Plantsmantx
The video is even more entertaining in its stupidity.
Little Boots
serously? it’s just me?
wow
Little Boots
ya know what? for omnes:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cwqhdRs4jyA
opiejeanne
@Little Boots: Hi Little Boots. I thought of you when I heard this a little while ago: https://youtu.be/O0DJ8hWgNes
? Martin
Shorter:
The confederate flag represents the opposite of what liberals want today, updated daily.
Little Boots
hey opie, it’s a whole thing up in here.
Little Boots
and a moondance.
Little Boots
um, moondance:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6lFxGBB4UGU
Little Boots
john’s so angry.
Little Boots
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r9biPKTozTg
Little Boots
seriously? my comment is still waiting moderation?
johnny? really?
piratedan
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=72j7Ars1r5g
BillinGlendaleCA
@Little Boots: I’m noticing a pattern here, first George, then Tom Petty, then ELO = Wilburys. Dylan next?
Little Boots
@BillinGlendaleCA:
don’t you start.
okay, fine, start.
should I do talking heads?
piratedan
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FP-rt7NefYE
Little Boots
wait, I totally did.
BillinGlendaleCA
@Little Boots: I’ve got something a bit different: What do you Want from Life!
Little Boots
@BillinGlendaleCA:
why are you the best?
NotMax
Phoenix?
Rise Like a.Phoenix, performed by … well, that would be telling.
Little Boots
okay, have to sleep.
billin, I am unfair to you. miss you.
AT
Seriously, no one is going to point out the police officers name? Lieutenant Randy Force! Couldn’t be more appropriate given the story
BillinGlendaleCA
@Little Boots: Play you out…
NotMax
@BillinGlendaleCA
Wait a minute. You mean the internet really is a series of Tubes?
;)
BillinGlendaleCA
@NotMax: So theorized a fellow UCLA alum.
Little Boots
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QQLWF_ItzYs
because we love the neil, don’t we?
Botsplainer
Just woke from a hideous nightmare where everything had gone hunger games and I somehow got caught up in something to suffer reprisal torture.
Then I read the LGF thread on Ted Cruz and Huckabee’s dominionism after a day of hearing two older lawyers pine for a Donald Trump presidency because he’s rich and doesn’t back down.
Not optimistic right now.
Little Boots
@Botsplainer:
but no walker? okay.
Tommy
@BillinGlendaleCA: Well as long as not a UCA grad. You a Trojan I will come down.
Betty Cracker
Perfect ending to a quintessentially American story.
Also, the pro-rebel flag protest organizer in the story is the same asshole who tried to organize a Muhammad drawing contest outside the mosque formerly attended by the ISIS wannabe assholes who died in the assault on asshole Pam Geller’s draw Muhammad contest in Texas.
It’s assholes all the way down, apparently.
BillinGlendaleCA
@Tommy: Trojans burst under pressure.
piratedan
@Betty Cracker: well it is Arizona, a heady mix of staunch libertarians (rancher style), faux news zombies, and suburban Mormon mafiosos with a dose of raving wingnuts mixed with wanna-be fascists (Sheriff Joe’s crowd) up against people of color, university types, a shrinking educated middle class and folks like you and me. We win some (see the independent redistricting initiative) and lose some (see McCain, John).
have a new candidate just announce to take on Koch marionette Martha McSally, so we’ll do our best to right that wrong. She’s actually running as a populist Democrat … http://blogforarizona.net/state-rep-victoria-steele-declares-for-congress/
Betty Cracker
@piratedan: That’s how we change things — town by town, district by district. I hope she wins.
raven
Hmm, I bet that is why my step-mom called yesterday afternoon, she lives about a half-mile from Bell Road.
Gvg
apparently the pro confederate flag jerks are also pro American flag and the writer of the article assumed that was obvious? Nobody knows any history there? I found the article confusing but it sounds like the anti confederates just conceded the position instead of pointing out the treason. that frustrates me because I have seen it happen before.
raven
@Gvg: Nobody gives a flying fuck what the other people think or say. Positions smositions.
Cervantes
@Gvg:
Seems to be yet another case where a little knowledge is more dangerous than none.
And when I say “a little knowledge,” I’m rounding up.
Cervantes
@piratedan:
Good sign.
Tough lady.
Betty Cracker
@Gvg: They could point it out all they want, but they’d receive an uncomprehending stare in response. True story: A gigantic asshole who used to live near my mom had a Memorial Day party every year that featured BBQ and live music. Of course we’d all go — there was little other entertainment to be found in that part of North Florida.
Anyhoo, midway through the festivities, there would be a ceremonial raising of the rebel flag, complete with honor guard comprising current and past service members, to the tune of Dixie. That would be followed by a ceremonial raising of the American flag with the Star Spangled Banner. Then the host would say a few America fuck yeah-themed words that would be right at home in a Lee Greenwood song or Sarah Palin gun factory grand opening speech.
We used to marvel at the lack of cognitive dissonance. But it was real.
Mustang Bobby
Not to be outdone by Arizona, Marion County in Florida — up in the part of the state we in South Florida refer to as Lower Alabama — have voted to put the Confederate flag back up.
And nothing says “democracy” more than flying the symbol of a racist and treasonous bunch of losers.
Mustang Bobby
@Betty Cracker: It’s like celebrating V-E day with swastikas.
Zinsky
@Betty Cracker: The “Lost Cause” dead-enders from the era of Reconstruction have never really gone away since after the Civil War. It really is pathetic how backwards and stuck in the past these doorknobs are. I want to say to them — ” Please just grown the f*ck up!”
Matt McIrvin
This is all going to end with about 40 states putting the Confederate flag INTO their state flags and the national anthem getting changed to Dixie, just watch.
Betty Cracker
@Matt McIrvin: I’m more optimistic. I was surprised that the mass murder in Charleston actually resulted in a national debate on the rebel flag; I thought people would just shrug and move on as they have so many times in the past. That the flag might actually come down at state buildings, that NASCAR has disowned it, etc., these are encouraging signs.
Cervantes
@Betty Cracker:
Yes, and it was better than nothing, I suppose.
Maybe after the next mass murder in an elementary school we can have a national debate on standardized testing!
OzarkHillbilly
So, it’s July 8 and the forecast says rain, rain, and more rain, with a high of 73 for the 2nd day in a row (after 2 days of sun mid 80s). Do I still live in the Ozarks? It’s supposed to be at least 95 with a brutal sun and humidity to match.
Mustang Bobby
@OzarkHillbilly: Sounds like a typical summer day in Orlando.
Matt McIrvin
@Betty Cracker: Usually, we have a national debate on guns, and the guns always end up winning. It’s gotten to the point where the reaction to the reaction actually happens before the reaction.
OzarkHillbilly
@Mustang Bobby: Orlando has highs in the 70s? Oh wait a minute, you mean Orlando, Ontario!
Joel
Sounds like this was not in any way a clusterfuck.
Matt McIrvin
@OzarkHillbilly: 73 Celsius!
bystander
@Mustang Bobby: Or Phyllis Schlafly’s birthday with the abomination colors.
Mustang Bobby
@OzarkHillbilly: No, the part about 95 with brutal sun and humidity to match. MouseWorld is putting up ads on TV to tempt people to come and get heatstroke by offering discount rates.
karen marie
@Gvg: Yeah, the article was very confusing. I thought the protesters were pro confederate flag yet author referred to them as “patriots.” Why would counter protesters threaten to burn American flag rather than confederate? #?journalismfail
OzarkHillbilly
@Matt McIrvin: Ah! I see!
@Mustang Bobby: Yeah, it is similar as a norm tho I suspect a little more humid there (our norm humidity is 70- 80%). Every now and again we get a scorcher of a heat wave with temps of 105+ for a week or 2. Few years ago I was working at Fort Leonard Wood and someone on the radio said the temp was 107. It just didn’t feel like 107 in any way shape or form tho. When I got home I checked my hygrometer (I had to look that up) and it said 18%. Thought I’d been transported to AZ.
OzarkHillbilly
And so the end begins: Disney to remove Bill Cosby statue
satby
@OzarkHillbilly: It’s 56 here right now, high today will be low 70s with showers and more rain tomorrow. My tomato plants are not happy. I kind of am though, I hate heat and humidity.
BillinGlendaleCA
@OzarkHillbilly: My aunt used to live out in that part of the state. When we visited, it was my first brush with midwest heat and humidity. Pretty hard on this SoCal boy.
raven
@OzarkHillbilly: I know when you do this stuff for a living it’s just another day at he office but these framers seem to be really good. They’re working from 6am to 4pm and look like they will be done with their work today.
JPL
@raven: It is looking good!
NotMax
@raven
Detective skills decidedly rusty, but I’m gonna hazard a guess that the big picture window on the second floor faces south or southeast.
raven
@NotMax: West, right at Dixie Painting! We’re glad we planted the pines 15 years ago!
Sherparick
A great read on ante-bellum Republic and the lead up to the Civil War.Civil War and what the flag of treason and slavery stands for.
ihttps://books.google.com/books?id=OCSL1OEwV6AC&printsec=frontcover&dq=inauthor:William+inauthor:W+inauthor:Freehling&cd=1&hl=en#v=onepage&q&f=false
satby
@Sherparick: link isn’t working for me, I can see it’s a book by William Freeling?
opiejeanne
@satby: Freehling.
WaterGirl
@satby: It was 56 when I got up for early morning swim, and 90 minutes later we are up to 57!
As soon as I let the pups out, I knew I would not be swimming today. Brrr. I would still take this over high heat and humidity, but can’t there be a middle ground???
WaterGirl
@raven: Wow. It’s really happening!
rk
What a mish mash of ideas. From what I could gather it’s the “patriots” in one corner with the American flag and confederate flag (WTF!) and people opposing the confederate flag, but also US policies in Iraq. Lest anyone starts rooting for the “Patriots”, there’s also a dash of white supremacist rhetoric thrown in “why should whites be ashamed of being white, why isn’t it acknowledged that whites helped slaves, why Black entertainment network, why the Negro fund,” why, why, why……? Bottom line : They’re all a bunch of morans. I would feel more sympathetic for the other side, but you get nowhere by burning the American flag. The best is that both sides are arguing outside a corporate behemoth F****ing with them every single day of the year.
Brutusettu
@Joel:@Mustang Bobby: those Nazis fought really hard (or at least had the Wehrmacht fight really hard on their behalf).
Heritage Not Hate Nazi flag.
Another Holocene Human
@Mustang Bobby: Somebody should ask all those celebrities why they chose to live in a proud Confederate hell hole.
Another Holocene Human
@Betty Cracker: Same here.
Peale
@karen marie: Left wing protester fail.
different-church-lady
Meanwhile, guns.
different-church-lady
@Cervantes:
I don’t care what any of the rest of you say, I’m awarding my internets for the day to this entry.
Betty Cracker
@Another Holocene Human: Celebrities plural? I thought Travolta was the only well-known person in Ocala. Has it become a celebrity mecca while I wasn’t looking?
kindness
You know what is really funny? The correct way to dispose of an aged American flag is to burn it. Really. That’s how one is supposed to do it.
Matt McIrvin
@kindness: When I was a kid, there was a widespread notion that if a US flag ever touched the ground, it was somehow ritually contaminated and you were supposed to burn it.
The more I think about this, the stranger it is. I think it’s a confusion of the Flag Code’s recommendation for respectful disposal of irreparably soiled or damaged flags, and its official deprecation of dipping the flag, which sometimes involves lowering a flag all the way to the ground.
Bobby Thomson
@Gvg: these “anti-“confederates are idiots or moles or both.
Bill
@BillinGlendaleCA: The Tubes are still one of the best live bands I’ve ever seen. Thanks for this one.
Bobby Thomson
@karen marie: because the counter protesters are idiots or morons or both who scored an own goal by threatening to burn the American flag.
Johnny Coelacanth
“scored an own goal by threatening to burn the American flag.” Really? My anarchist buddy points out that the American flag represents just as much brutality and oppression as the confederate flag, if not more. It’s kind of hard to argue that one flag is better than the other, in that light.
different-church-lady
@Johnny Coelacanth: Name some good things the Confederate Flag stands for.
The Other Chuck
@kindness: Yep, burning it prevents the unseemly sight of a flag in the trash. Any American Legion post will accept a flag for proper disposal (I say fuck the legion in general, but they at least have that use).
Johnny Coelacanth
@different-church-lady: Not hardly. You can name some good things that the American flag stands for, and I can shoot them down the way I imagine my iconoclast friend would.