[VAcourier] protest--News paper

[Virginia Division SCV Communication List]

    Citizen plans protest

*Floyd Press Staff* <mailto:news at floydpress.com> The Floyd Press: News
<http://www.swvatoday.com/section_front/category/tfp_news/> >
12:23 PM September 29, 07

by Wanda Combs
Editor

A citizen who said he has exhausted other channels is planning "some form of
formal protest" at the Arts and Crafts Festival next month. The controversy
surrounds Gary Walker, a vendor at the festival, and his book "The Truth
About Slavery."
Rob Neukirch, a local business owner, told the Press his objection is not
about Walker's "right to say," but rather about the forum. ".the festival is
not the place to expound political views."
Members of the Floyd County Woman's Club, which sponsors the event, said
they do not endorse Mr. Walker's work, or the work of any other vendor who
participates. Carlotta Summers, one of the committee members helping with
the festival, explained vendors must apply and meet the criteria to be able
to participate. Vendors are only allowed to sell an art or craft. "It has to
be something you've done, not just merchandise." 
Summers said literature is considered an art form and Walker sells books he
has written.
Walker, who lives in Roanoke, said protestors are "not only trying to stop
the freedom of ideals, they're trying to stop me from making a living." He
added, "These people are on the wrong side of the track..It's a form of
censorship."
Neukirch said his contention goes back almost three years - for that long he
has "been trying to understand the presence of Gary Walker" at the arts and
crafts festival. Along with the books he sells, Walker, Neukirch said,
"wraps his booth in the Confederate Flag and sells various items, among them
stickpins made in China, pertaining to the Confederacy." Neukirch said he
bought the book in question and read it. 
"The agenda," seems to be, he noted, "the South was wronged."
Walker, who has been coming to the festival at least since 1996, said he
once sold his books at the Virginia State Fair. All of the books he has
written are related to the War Between the States, he commented. "They do
have slavery in them." Walker commented that "slavery is not about being
racist and cruel. It's about being greedy." He said slavery is a
"complicated issue, but thanks to me, it is no longer a mysterious issue."
Walker said the book is in its third edition and he offers a 100 percent
guarantee. "To anyone who finds something wrong, I'll double their money
back." Walker said much of what is taught about slavery in school is untrue
or slanted. And later added, "What they teach in school divides races. My
book brings them together."
At the festival, Walker wears a Confederate uniform. "I'm very proud of my
ancestors," he commented. He said he has been writing full-time for
22 years and he is the only writer in Virginia who makes his living by
writing on the War Between the States. The War in Southwest Virginia,
another one of his books, is in the 10th edition, he remarked. "There are
very few regional history books that go into second printing."
Asked about a planned protest and what his reaction would be, Walker said,
"I've never had it happen. I will probably be uncomfortable at least a
little bit." He added that he would expect to have a tremendous amount of
people coming by and supporting him.
Summers said the Woman's Club had ordered all of Walker's books and some
members had read the books and found them to be "historical in nature." 
She added that The Truth About Slavery "mainly had to do with economic
times, the situation in the country, but wasn't touting slavery..His books
also say from the Southern point of view. The Northern point of view could
be different. They could come (to the festival), too."
Summers told the Press that the Woman's Club does not permit any vendor
going through the crowd and peddling anything.
The Woman's Club also requires vendors to pull anything not related to a
craft or art from their booth, and they have had to do that in the past,
including with Walker. "He had buttons he was selling. He had to stop
selling them. It was merchandise, not arts and crafts..The festival is not
like the flea market in Hillsville."
Jo Mandzak of the Woman's Club said 155 vendors have signed on for October
6-7 festival, which each year attracts an average of 5,000 people. She said
Walker told the Woman's Club he intends to come "unless we tell him not to."
She added the Woman's Club did talk to the school officials, since the
festival is held on school grounds, at Floyd County High School. They also
consulted with the Sheriff's Office to get an understanding on the law
regarding protests. Summers said, "If they picket, they picket.as long as
they don't cause any disturbance."
The Floyd County Woman's Club did plan a meeting on the issue earlier this
week, but Summers said reconsideration of Walker's vendor status was not
being discussed. "We have no right to tell him to come. He has abided by our
rules and the school rules."
She added that people can either stop at Walker's booth or walk on by.
Neukirch said he and others felt strongly enough about the issue to voice
their objections before the festival this year, rather than wait after the
event.
He said he offered last year for his Floyd restaurant, Oddfella's Cantina,
to pay for the space Walker's booth occupies at the festival, if it was a
matter of money. ".an Arts and Crafts Fair," he added, "ought not be a forum
for anyone's political agenda."