CALL TO ACTION:
End Public Funding for the World’s Largest Confederate Memorial
Financial documents obtained by the Stone Mountain Action Coalition (SMAC) at the Stone Mountain Memorial Association (SMMA) board’s November meeting reveal that the SMMA plans to apply for up to $1 million in direct funding from the Georgia State Financing and Investment Commission (GSFIC) to maintain Stone Mountain Park (the “Park”). According to its own website, the SMMA claims to be a State of Georgia authority that is, “self-supporting and receives no tax dollars.” This isn’t the first time Georgia taxpayers have been used to fund the state-sponsored Confederate memorial...
In 1958 in defiance to the civil rights movement, the outspoken segregationist and Georgia Governor Marvin Griffin purchased the mountain for $1.5 million. After Griffin led the state’s purchase of the mountain, by 1970 the state had spent $24 million ($126+ million in 2020 dollars) using public, taxpayer money and required it by law to serve as a Confederate memorial.
The SMMA has also been using approximately $16 million from Georgia General Obligation Bonds (which they don’t have to repay) to renovate and maintain the Park’s hotel and campgrounds.
For decades, white supremacy groups have held and continue to hold rallies and demonstrations at the Park, which as you can imagine, require additional law enforcement given that they are often armed to the teeth with military-style weapons. In fact, this summer the Park had to call in the Georgia National Guard after a planned white supremacy rally. And guess who pays these bills? The Georgia taxpayers...again.
The SMMA has used MILLIONS of Georgia taxpayer’s dollars to establish, protect, and maintain the world’s largest, and state-sponsored Confederate memorial in a public park. This is simply unacceptable. STOP the Park from receiving $1 million of taxpayer funds!
1) Email SMMA Chair Ray Stallings Smith III and Diana Pope, GSFIC Director of Financing and Investment
Pre-populated email (click to send or copy/paste emails and message below)
Sample Message: I am writing to demand that no more public, taxpayer money is used to support Stone Mountain Park. This includes general obligation bonds and direct funding from the Georgia State Financing and Investment Commission. The Stone Mountain Memorial Association claims to be self-sufficient and I believe it is inappropriate to use taxpayer money to support the world’s largest Confederate memorial that was established in defiance of the civil rights movement.
2) Call Ray Stallings Smith III and Diana Pope!
Phone numbers:
Ray Stallings Smith III: (404) 760-6006
Diana Pope: (404) 463-5705
Sample Script: I am calling to demand that no more public, taxpayer money is used to support Stone Mountain Park. This includes general obligation bonds and direct funding from the Georgia State Financing and Investment Commission. The Stone Mountain Memorial Association claims to be self-sufficient and I believe it is inappropriate to use taxpayer money to support the world’s largest Confederate memorial that was established in defiance of the civil rights movement.
3) Contact your state representatives!
Tell them you do not support the use of Georgia taxpayer funds from general obligation bonds and the Georgia State Financing and Investment Commission to subsidize the maintenance of the world’s largest Confederate memorial that was established in defiance of the civil rights movement.