Stacey Abrams addresses critics over burning Georgia flag with confederate symbol while in college
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Stacey Abrams is giving Brian Kemp a run for his money in Georgia’s neck-in-neck governor’s race that has been swirling with reports of racism and voter suppression.
—Florida’s culture clash pits Andrew Gillum against Trump voters—
And now, on the eve of their first televised debate tonight in Atlanta, Abrams participation in a flag burning in Georgia from her college days resurfaced in a New York Times article.
Last Monday, Abrams team confirmed that the Democratic former state House minority leader took part in the 1992 burning of the Georgia state flag and the Confederate battle emblem that had been attached to it during the 1950’s fight over segregation.
At the time, Abrams was a student at Spelman College.
Abrams participated in a “permitted, peaceful protest against the Confederate emblem in the flag” a statement said.
“During Stacey Abrams’ college years, Georgia was at a crossroads, struggling with how to overcome racially divisive issues, including symbols of the Confederacy, the sharpest of which was the inclusion of the Confederate emblem in the Georgia state flag,” the statement read.
“This conversation was sweeping across Georgia as numerous organizations, prominent leaders, and students engaged in the ultimately successful effort to change the flag.”
It added: “Abrams’ time in public service as deputy city attorney and as a state legislative leader have all been focused on bringing people together to solve problems.”
—University names college for Gwen Ifill, but causes discord in its choice of dean—
Ultimately, Abrams and other politicians successfully got the flag changed and the hateful emblem was removed.
Abrams is currently locked in a dead heat with Republican candidate Kemp, who is getting high praise from the oval office.
Georgia Secretary of State Brian Kemp will be a great governor. He has been successful at whatever he has done, and has prepared for this very difficult and complex job for many years. He has my Strong Endorsement. His opponent is totally unqualified. Would destroy a great state!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 20, 2018
Abrams has received an endorsement from Barack Obama.
It is a profound honor to receive President @BarackObama’s endorsement. He knows first-hand that progress isn’t always easy, but it is always worth fighting for—no matter who you are or where you call home. Join us: https://t.co/i2tFQgUbjF #TeamAbrams #GAGov #gapol pic.twitter.com/mk53mCHFFd
— Stacey Abrams (@staceyabrams) August 1, 2018
Abrams, who was also the minority leader in the State House of Representatives, could become the first Black and first woman governor of the state of Georgia at age 44.
WSBTV reports that some 85 percent of African-American voters support Abrams, while roughly two-thirds of white voters’ support Kemp.
While Kemp has characterized Abrams as “too extreme for Georgia,” Abrams has called Kemp an incompetent chief elections officer bent on suppressing minority voters.
There’s been a lot of controversy over the ‘Use it or Lose it’ voting law that has reportedly purged 107,000 people from the voting roll.
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