Robert A. Cronkleton | The Kansas City Star
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — After a giant Confederate flag was erected this past winter along a popular route to the Lake of the Ozarks, Amanda Burrows of Tuscumbia, Missouri, felt compelled to respond.
The flag, she believes, is an “outdated symbol of racism.”
“I didn’t think it was appropriate that the flag would be allowed to speak for everyone in this community,” Burrows said. “After being angry about it but not being constructive for several months, I noticed that the billboard in the direct line of sight of the flag was available.”
That has led to her putting up a billboard with the anti-racist message of “EQUALITY BIGGER THAN HATE.” She wanted tourists and visitors to know “that Confederate flag does not represent all of us.”
The billboard sits near the base of the flag, which is prominently placed on private property along U.S. 54 highway just south of Eldon, Missouri.
“It was important to me to pinpoint a message that no one could argue with,” she said. “I didn’t think it was a message that needed to be politicized. Even though people attempt to make an argument that the Confederate flag has some historical significance, we can’t deny how it makes people feel and I don’t want to be a part of making anyone feel bad.”
Supporters of the flag have argued that the flag represents historic pride and defiance. But to many, it is viewed as a symbol of hate, racism and white supremacy. Some have argued that it is a relic that belongs in museums, not on official display.
Burrows raised money for the billboard through a GoFundMe page. She has raised $5,000 and just announced that there’s enough money to extend the lease for another six months.
In her initial post, she makes a nod to respecting the history of the country and not wanting to live in a place where people can’t have differing opinions.
“I don’t want visitors to this area to leave with the impression that Eldon is stuck in a place of ignorance, hate, & racism,” she wrote in her post. “In spite of anyone’s best historical argument the Confederate flag cannot be separated from what it represented during the Civil War, Slavery.”
She said that is not what the area is about. “We wave at our neighbors, empty our pockets at cancer fundraisers & only raise taxes for schools & police officers.”
Initially, she said members of the community were lukewarm about the idea, saying the community doesn’t appreciate conflict of any sort. But with the support of people she knew and family, they were able to raise enough for the initial startup.
Because the billboard company required Burrows to include her name on the billboard, other donors were able to find her and her GoFundMe campaign. She said she hasn’t received any negative feedback.
As of Friday, 81 people had donated to the campaign.
John Huhman, who lives in Camdenton, Missouri, and owns a farm in Miller County, praised Burrows for drawing attention to the flag.
He said that while he respects the person’s rights to free speech, he couldn’t help but have negative thoughts about the meaning of the flag.
“People will tell you it’s about Southern heritage, Confederate heritage,” said Huhman, who is the treasurer for the Camden County Democratic Committee and the Lake Area Federation of Democrats. “For other people, that is a pretty clear statement of racism.”
Burrows said it was important to point out that she has made no effort to remove the flag.
“It’s on private property,” she said. “While I disagree with it being there, I’ve made no effort to impede anyone’s right to free speech.”
Burrows said she doesn’t really have an exit strategy.
“I can’t see myself taking that sign down as long as that flag is still up,” she said. “I don’t have a long-term funding solution, so I will continue to solicit and accept donations for as long as we need to keep that sign up there.”
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