By Warner M. MontgomeryWarner@TheColumbiaStar.com

This billboard was removed due to pressure from the Darlington, S.C., County Council. Photo courtesy of Don Darby

The constitutional right to freedom of expression has taken a hit from bigotry once again. A billboard placed by the South Carolina Division of the Sons of Confederate Veterans (SCV) was brought down by political pressure exerted by members of the Darlington, SC, County Council.

The SCV, an international, non-profit historical honor society, headquartered in Columbia, Tennessee, has nearly 3,500 members in 68 local chapters in SC. The chapters engage in a variety of activities such as sponsoring living history demonstrations in schools, reenactments, marking Confederate graves, and preserving historic sites.

As part of its membership promotions, the SCV contracted with Palmetto Outdoor Media to place a billboard on highway 52 near the Darlington Speedway timed to be up for the last NASCAR races May 12-13. It stated "Victory is great, but honor is greater. Defend your Southern heritage" and gave its 800 telephone number. A Confederate flag and the SCV seal were also on the billboard.

We may not agree with what you have to say, but we will always defend your right to say it. Palmetto Outdoor Media received complaints from Darlington politicians and removed the sign May 10, Confederate Memorial Day. After a threatened law suit from the SCV, and after the first race, the billboard was put back up.

On June 16, Palmetto Outdoor Media was told by SC Central Railroad, owner of the right-of-way where the sign was located, that the sign was offensive and demanded the entire billboard be removed - sign, frame, and all.

Randall B. Burbage, commander of the SC SCV, informed the membership on July 11, 2006, that their attorney is studying the possibilities of pursuing legal action on the First Amendment rights violation.

Sons of Confederate Veterans www.scscv.com