COLUMBIA (WACH) -- Members of the South Carolina State Conference NAACP are fired up over what they say is a celebration of slavery and terrorism.
At issue is the Ordinance of Secession. The document is over 100 years old.
A Secession Gala will be held on December 20th and that’s not sitting well with the group.
“We are not opposed to observances but we are opposed to disrespect," says Lonnie Randolph.
According to Eric Emerson Director of the South Carolina Department of Archives and History, Secession is when South Carolina left the Union for a number of reasons from state rights, tariffs, government control and the need for slavery.
"You have people who come out saying that they want to celebrate secession and other people who see it as the beginning of a terrible time in American history and resulting in six hundred and twenty thousand combat deaths," says Eric Emerson.
Some folks with the South Carolina State Conference NAACP say there’s nothing to celebrate.
"A gala is a party, a party, a celebration," adds Lonnie. Recognition, even one of the words used to describe a gala is to paint a town red."
The group says holding a celebration gala is equal to celebrating past human injustices.
The South Carolina State NAACP will hold a march and vigil at the event in Charleston in two weeks.
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