Abraham Explains Vote to Repeal Parade Resolution

Paducah City Commissioner Richard Abraham has released a statement regarding his recent vote in favor of repealing a resolution that bars groups from flying the Confederate flag at the city's Veterans Day parade.

In the statement released Wednesday afternoon Abraham explains why he voted for the motion, and talks about some of the topics discussed at Tuesday's meeting. Commissioners voted 3-1 against repealing the resolution.

Here is Abraham's statement: 

As I explained to all, previously, The Flying of the Flag was not the issue of rescinding the resolution.  An agreement had been reached with SCV, months before, to not fly the battle flag in the parade.  This was because of their sensitivity to the fact that some citizens were very uncomfortable with it. They are not a hate group.  That agreement was also physically backed up by the 'Parks Parade Participation Application" that all who wanted to participate in the Veterans Day Parade had to abide by certain specifics.  Just like what did happen last November 11.  As stated by our attorney, everyone must receive these applications, 'even SCV".

My original intent. on looking at the resolution, was, as an elected city official (who took an oath to uphold our constitution, in its entirety)  to make sure we were not violating anyone's rights.  Before the attorneys officially investigated the issue, there was a concern, not only mine, that we needed to be careful.

Because of the confusion as to the title of the resolution and some of the wording, people were misled into thinking that I was taking a stand that I was not taking. Remember, an agreement had been reached months before that the Battle Flag was not going to be flown in the Veterans Day Parade.  Last night, I agreed with some of the comments the public voiced.  I wanted to make sure everyone had an opportunity to speak.  But as stated above, an agreement to not have the flag fly had already been agreed upon by people sitting down together and actually discussing the issue with common courtesy.  Those people who spoke last evening, were under the impression, wrongly, that  I was trying to get the Battle Flag reinstated.

I mentioned, in my comments last evening, experiences I had had, in the 1980's of hurtful misconceptions of Black people, that some people harboured.  I mentioned how these misconceptions were untrue.  I paralleled those misconceptions with some commonly held similar statements that are rising up today that are equally untrue, like, if you are white you are part of the problem, and if you are white and proud of your family then you are a racist etc.  Having experienced lies like this personally makes me want to make sure to squash those biased statements whenever I see them.  

The issue is not about smoking in a city park, or some being "triple protected" and others not being protected at all.  The issue, in my opinion, is government overreach.  Our job description is set forth in KRS.  We need to focus on unfunded mandates, budget issues, public safety/Keeton issues and stay out of the way of our citizens.  We are here "for" them, not to "lord" over them.

In this environment, it is easy to become inflamed and think that your feelings are not taken into effect.  We all must be compassionate towards one another.  With so many spirits of deceit and malcontent abounding, telling the truth has become revolutionary.

I leave off with this statement that was so eloquently penned by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.  "If we do not learn to live together as brothers, we will perish together as fools."

Commissioner Richard Abraham