I want
to thank everyone for taking time to attend our news conference
today. I am William Lathem, spokesman for the Southern Heritage
Political Action Committee.
“This is not the end. It is not even the beginning of the
end. But it is, perhaps, the end of the beginning.”
As it was when Winston Churchill spoke those words following
the Battle of Britain, so it is today in Georgia.
The results of yesterday’s so-called referendum clearly shows
the foolishness of compromise when that compromise is based on
political correctness and not on fairness.
Less than 20% of Georgia’s active registered Voters voted in
yesterday’s so-called referendum. 14% of the registered votes were
for the Perdue flag while 5 % voted for the Barnes flag in the
second lowest Presidential Primary turnout in 20 years. The turnout
was well below the Secretary of State's projections of 26% active
registered voters or 1,025,938.
To put it in hard numbers, approximately 585,000 individuals
of a total State population of 8,560,000 have approved a State Flag
for Georgia.
What a stunning repudiation of the politicians and chamber of
commerce pundits. We all know that if the popular flag of the
people, the 1956 State Flag, had been included in a fair vote on our
State Flag, there would have been enormous public interest.
When 80% of Georgia’s active registered voters - express their
displeasure over the politicians’ rigged referendum by refusing to
participate, it is clear the Flag fight will not be over until the
people get a fair vote which includes the 1956 State Flag as a
choice.
At this time I will introduce representatives from some of the
groups working with us to obtain a fair vote on the Flag.
hamber,
it was the second lowest turnout in 20 years. Less than 7% of the people
in Georgia voted, less than 20% of the registered voters voted. The only
winner in the flag referendum portion was the Chamber and their political
cronies.