Proof In The Patches: For anyone wondering whether this was a hate crime

[kpete]

Last edited Thu Jun 18, 2015, 12:07 PM - Edit history (1)

Both are flags of white minority rule over Africans.



A Facebook photo shows Roof wearing a jacket with two flag patches:
One of Apartheid-era South Africa, and the other of Rhodesia, before it became majority-ruled Zimbabwe.

http://rt.com/usa/268108-carolina-church-shooting-suspect/
http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/dylann-roof-white-supremacist-patches

[chalmers]

1. About the other patch, I see a scroll and book

and the word Richland. Anybody else. I'm thinking a high school scholastics club.

[drray23]

5. its the rhodesian flag.

Rhodesia which is now zimbabwe was an apartheit state which formed after the british colony of the same name became independent.
In an effort to twarth the majority black rule , white supremacist land grabbed and formed an apartheid state called rhodesia. It lasted until 1979.

[chalmers]

6. No I know the two flag patches

There is another patch on his left side.

[jberryhill]

2. Has anyone figured out the other emblem?

Good bet the family is Afrikaans.

[jen63]

12. The last name would fit. n/t

[Contrary1]

13. It looks to me like a book and diploma...

Maybe from his high school?

[ck4829]

3. They mentioned he had a 'distinctive licence plate' too, I guess this is what they meant...

From one of his Facebook friends.

[kpete]

7. yep

[Scurrilous]

19. His T-shirt is a more accurate representation of the flag of the CSA. n/t

[Sissyk]

4. No doubt it was a hate crime. n/t

[BrotherIvan]

8. How the fuck did this backwater cretin learn about Rhodesia?

Oh yeah, fucking hate sites. I hope someone like Anonymous can shut them all down. I hope whichever sites he visited are examined very closely in their calls for violence and that they too make it to jail.

[dixiegrrrrl]

10. Gonna be interesting to find out about his parents and family. n/t

[BrotherIvan]

11. I have driven through backwoods S. Carolina

And on that trip I saw golf carts and cars with confederate flags on the antennae. The stars and bars hung from beaten up fences, one with animal skulls all over it too. It felt like being in a horror movie. Needless to say I drove as fast as possible.

It is a sickness in their culture. As they rot in their depressed, hate-filled lives, they worry that some darkie might have something that they don't. Notice this fucking terrorist drove to an upscale neighborhood, not just some church down the street.

That's why gun culture is so strong down there. It's how they still feel power. And then one of them who was raised in this toxic brew will come out and act out everyone's fantasies. They are all collectively insane.

[cwydro]

14. There are decent people in SC too.

I drive through there a lot and have never seen any of what you speak of.

My sister, a lifelong dem, lives there - as do many of my friends.

Generalizations are stupid. And wrong.

[BrotherIvan]

15. The adjective used was "backwater" meaning remote and rural

I did not say all of SC which I did like and found the people to be very nice (mostly because they were plying me with delicious food which always works). And yes, I did see many, many confederate flags on that three hour drive. My jaw dropped for the first few, and then it was so many I lost count.

I drove through Georgia and Tennessee and did not see them because I was on a main highway. But when I got off the highway in SC and took the back roads, I saw them. Why do you think this kid could walk around with the patches on his jacket and his license plate cover and no one really thought it was a big deal? Do I think SC is more racist than other parts of the south? No. Do I think that every red state is full of racists? Yes. What other explanation could there be?

[cwydro]

16. Ok.

There is a house with a confederate flag on my journey from my farm in the sticks of NC to Charlotte, where my mother lives.

This confederate flag owner's next door neighbor is black. Usually when I pass by they are both huddled over the engine of a car. Together.

Go figure.

[BrotherIvan]

17. Because the white guy probably says

I hate all them *******, just not you. People are messed up that way.

[cwydro]

18. Maybe.

Who knows.

[KitSileya]

20. His family has friends who describe him as soft-spoken

Adding, yes, he told a lot of racist jokes, but we knew he didn't mean them. Which is bullshit. Racist jokes, like rape jokes, have only one purpose. They are used to gauge the audience, to see who agrees, who disagrees, and who are so fucking mealy-mouthed cowards they won't raise a fuss even if they think it is improper.

The latter group are the most important in helping racists, because they give the racists cover to operate. They know the cowards hate it when things get awkward, and will therefore put the onus on people of color to give way when disputes and outrageous behavior happen.

In other words, we White folks need to look at our own behavior and check whether we dismiss racism because it would create tension (in the family, at work, at church, or other social groups) if we used our privilege and didn't smooth things over. After all, the racists make things awkward to begin with - let them own the awkwardness, and then perhaps a person of color won't have to risk everything. And bonus, that person of color won't continue thinking we are racist too, the next time Uncle Larry/Jennifer from Accounting/the uber-nerd in our gaming group says something racist.

[Coventina]

9. Double ick.