Confederate group inducts first black member

ASSOCIATED PRESS

In the wake of the dispute over state license plates bearing the Confederate flag, the Sons of the Confederate Veterans inducted its. first black member yesterday.

Members of the organization, who have been criticized by civil rights advocates who say they are using a racist symbol, raised the Confederate flag, sang “Dixie” and added Anthony Cohen to their ranks during their annual Lee and Jackson Day ceremony.

“I came to join the Sons of Confederate Veterans to honor my family history and to honor American history,” said Cohen, a historian descended from black and white Confederate soldiers who is writing a book on the Underground Railroad.

This month, Maryland officials revoked license plates bearing the Confederate battle flag, which were made for the historical group. Black legislators persuaded the MVA to recall the Confederate-flag tags.

At yesterday’s ceremony, about 300 people, many wearing Confederate battle garb, cheered and gave rebel yells before statues of Robert E. Lee and Thomas

“Stonewall” Jackson.

“The question I’m often asked is why I would be associated with a symbol that many African-Americans consider racist,” Cohen said. “The Sons of Confederate Veterans fly the tag to honor our history. They are not a racist organization.”