As reported by 11Alive.com on April 24, 2018, the Fayette County, Georgia Commission presented a proclamation to name April 26 as Confederate Memorial Day and claimed it was meant to honor 1,000 men from Fayette County who “fought underscored their belief in rights guaranteed by the Constitution.” It added that 379 of those men died.
The document goes on to say that “the Sons of Confederate Veterans are preserving the history and legacy of the men and women who both lived and died during the Civil War so that future generations can understand the motives that animated the Southern Cause.”
Senator Valencia Seay, representing district 34 that includes Clayton and Fayette Counties, spoke out against this Confederate History Month Proclamation. “As the Georgia State Senator representing portions of both Clayton and Fayette County, I stand with the NAACP and others in opposition to the Fayette County Board of Commissioners proclamation to acknowledging the Confederate Memorial Day,” said Senator Seay.
“I am concerned about the message it sends and about whether such a message could affect business decisions and hamper economic development opportunities in Georgia.
I agree with Governor Nathan Deal within his wisdom changing the name of Confederate Memorial Day to a State Holiday, thus understanding the economic impact to the Great State of Georgia.
The enslavement of a race of people should be remembered, but it should not be celebrated.”