Stone Mountain Park’s state-appointed authority is allowing the park, which features the world’s largest Confederate memorial, to have a 19th annual Confederate Memorial Day Service on Saturday April 30. The sponsor is the Georgia Division of the Sons of Confederate Veterans (SCV), which says in a statement “we haven’t gone anywhere and let’s make this the largest turnout we’ve ever had.”
The morning service in the memorial plaza is to be held in front of the mountain’s Confederate carving, and a cannon and honor guard salute is scheduled after SCV spokesman and attorney Martin K. O’Toole gives a keynote address.
The SCV stresses it is a solemn and peaceful event to honor Georgia’s Confederate fallen from the Civil War (who are recognized by the federal government as veterans).
The park, located in DeKalb County, has been closed to events for about two years because of COVID restrictions. However, in August 2020, the park entrance was the scene of verbal and physical assaults as white Marxists and black radicals clashed with right-wing demonstrators. State troopers and Georgia National Guardsmen eventually arrived to break it up.
Park overseers learned a lesson that day, and security will no doubt be beefed up for the April 30th event.
