Confederate Flag Protest at Westview Cemetery

A small group of protesters led by Atlanta civil rights activist and local talk show host Rev. Benford Stellmacher gathered Wednesday at Westview Cemetery to protest the Confederate flags that hang in the middle of the cemetery grounds.

Stellmacher said the flags—which fly over a sculpture of a solider that memorializes the 400 Confederate veterans buried in the cemetery—are symbols of racism and the endorsement of black slavery.

He and other demonstrators, some of whom have family buried at the landmark southwest Atlanta cemetery, 1680 Ralph David Abernathy Blvd., said they believe the flags should be removed.

“This is an egregious act,” said Stellmacher, gazing at the flag. “[It] insults the integrity of Dr. King's whole theory.”

“This represents our people being raped," he said. 'This represents our people being lynched."

The continuing debate over Westview Cemetery's Confederate flags resurfaced Saturday at the funeral of the Rev. Howard Creecy, Jr., who had led the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) since late January. 

Demonstrators and native Atlantans Ulysses Crawford and John Mattox said they were appalled that the landmark southwest Atlanta cemetery has Confederate flags openly displayed on the grounds.

Crawford buried his mother at Westview in 1988 and his sister in 2004. He said he visits their graves about six times a year. 

Mattox lives in the surrounding Westview neighborhood and has a cousin buried at Westview.

Neither men have seen the Confederate flags but some suggest it is because of segregated burial grounds until the 1970s and, possibly, later. Some of the protesters on Wednesday said the cemetery is known to have a yellow line that leads to the "black section" and a white line that leads to the "white section."

Now that Mattox has seen the flag and heard the rumors, “I wouldn't want [my cousin] buried under that flag,” he said.

Westview Cemetery administrators said that there is no racial division at the cemetery.

Office Manager Martha Powers has worked at Westview since 1945.  She said the yellow and white lines are directional guides.

“We have all types and we welcome all," Powers said. "They can bury anywhere they want to. We have no discrimination whatsoever.”

In fact, Powers shared that the Rev. Joseph Lowery has purchased a plot in Section C, which is right along the white line of the cemetery. 

Regarding the flag, Charles Bowen, Jr., Vice-President of Westview Cemetery, said it is against state rules and regulations to disturb the Confederate Memorial, where the Confederate flags are displayed.

The Confederate Veterans Association of Fulton County purchased the land decades ago and, thereby, acquired burial rights in the property.   Administrators must adhere to state laws protecting those rights, Bowen said. 

 “It's a memorial," Bowen said. "There are memorials throughout the nation. We don't have the right to take down a memorial.  That's disrespectful.”

Powers shared that she doesn't think the memorial or the flag should be removed because “It's history. . . you can't erase history.”

Stellmacher said he plans to continue to protest against the flags.

"We're going to take a stand," Stellmacher said. "We're going to do whatever needs to be done."