Earlier today, I posted a story about a large rebel flag that was painted on a Pensacola landmark known as Graffiti Bridge. I will repost it here as a prelude to the current situation.
Pensacola, Florida has a few good things going for it; the weather, beautiful beaches, and the Graffiti Bridge.
To the unknowing, this photo, which appeared in the Pensacola News Journal on May 22, may look like an act of vandalism. It isn't.
The 17th Avenue train trestle has a history. For many years, police have looked the other way as generations have expressed themselves. Sometimes it is painted multiple times in one day.
It is said that the only rule is that your graffiti should be better than what you are covering up.
Friday, this appeared...
There's no telling how long it will be on the bridge due to tradition. It may be history, already.
The Pensacola News Journal Facebook page and website alerted 'friends' when the group showed up to paint this. Perhaps they wanted larger crowd for their story.
So far, they have not posted if another group is covering this piece of art.
Photo: Ben Twingley/btwingley@pnj.com
The plot thickened later in the evening.
Video and photos below the fold...
A well known and respected local activist, Father Nathan Monk, was attacked while shooting video of the group responsible for painting the Confederate flag on the bridge.
The incident was witnessed by the police, but Monk refused to press charges. He later posted this on his Facebook page.
I would like to make a statement about the video showing my phone being knocked out of my hand. There were a lot of groups down at the Graffiti Bridge last night expressing opinions and at one point some of that got very heated. A young man walked over to explain to the police how he viewed some of the events and I decided to video tape it. When I turned my video camera on, it was instantly knocked out of my hand.
...
I believe what he did was wrong, I believe that the Confederate Flag is a symbol that should be placed in a museum, and that is why I was down there last night. All those things being said, I am a Christian, even if I struggle with my faith, and of the narrative in the scriptures is about redemption, and to "set the captives free." I disagree with this man, but he is also a father, a son, and a fellow human being.
My hope is that he learns from this moment. Considering all the hate mail I am receiving at this time, it is very difficult to find a place of forgiveness. But if our nation is going to heal from the painful blight of bigotry and hatred, it won't come from another war or any more people being in jail, it will come from us moving forward.
Apparently from what I can tell, the flag was painted over quickly. I took this photo around 2:00 this afternoon.
As I mentioned earlier, the only rule of Graffiti Bridge is that your graffiti should be better than what you are covering up.