SC Nonprofit Association Urges Legislature to Remove Confederate Flag

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

July 2, 2015

Jessica Munday

(843) 216-0442

jessica@trio-solutions.com

  

South Carolina Nonprofit Association Urges Legislature to Remove Confederate Flag

Following the aftermath of the shooting where nine people were killed during Bible study in a historic African-American church in Charleston, the state’s largest consortium of nonprofit leaders and organizations joins the growing list of South Carolina-based businesses asking the state Legislature to remove the Confederate flag from the State House grounds in Columbia.

 

 

Charleston, SC – In a statement issued earlier this week, Madeleine McGee, the president of the South Carolina Association of Nonprofit Organizations (SCANPO), called on members of the statewide organization to actively support the removal of the Confederate battle flag from the State House grounds. McGee, with support from the organization’s board of directors, issued the following statement to South Carolina lawmakers, who are scheduled to reconvene on July 5.

 

“South Carolina Association of Nonprofit Organizations commends Governor Haley and the General Assembly for promoting unity in South Carolina in the face of unthinkable tragedy that took place on June 17 in Charleston. We support the removal of the Confederate battle flag from the South Carolina State House grounds so that it does not continue to divide us. Let this be an initial step on the path forward taken by all leaders, not just our elected officials, but also our private, faith-based, and nonprofit leaders to promote unity and healing across our great state. We recommit our organization to serve, support, and strengthen the nonprofit community as it works to help dismantle inequities and bring hope and opportunity to all South Carolinians.”

 

McGee emphasizes how much the shooting on June 17 affected the state and its nonprofit sector. “While the individual who committed the horrendous crime may have acted alone, he exposed a subculture of hate and racism that exists in our state. That culture, with which the flag is now inextricably linked, adversely impacts all the good that we as nonprofits aim to accomplish.”

 

SCANPO represents hundreds of nonprofits, reaching all areas of South Carolina. When the organization chooses to advocate for a policy change, it impacts the entire nonprofit sector. “As president of our statewide organization, I feel compelled to add our sector’s voice to those raised by our state’s many leaders,” states McGee.

 

Nonprofit leaders wanting to learn more about their ability to advocate and speak up on issues are encouraged to review SCANPO’s online resources.  For comment about SCANPO’s position on the Confederate flag, email communications@scanpo.org or call (803) 929-0399.

 

ABOUT SCANPO

Founded in 1997, the South Carolina Association of Nonprofit Organizations (SCANPO) is the only statewide membership organization and network that brings together nonprofit leaders to strengthen the state’s entire nonprofit sector. To learn more about SCANPO, visit scanpo.orgfacebook.com/scanpo and twitter.com/scanpo. To find out more about the impact of the South Carolina nonprofit sector, view the SCANPO Sector Impact Report.

 

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