Wachs Calls for S. Carolina Boycott

City Councilman Joel Wachs called Tuesday for Los Angeles to join a boycott of South Carolina until the Legislature there removes the Confederate flag from its statehouse, saying the pendant is a symbol of racism.

The motion by Wachs, to be considered by the full council next week, would prohibit city employees from visiting South Carolina at government expense until the flag is taken down.

Wachs also sought a U.S. Justice Department investigation into whether the flying of the flag over the statehouse violates civil rights laws. “There should be no question but that the Confederate flag, which was first raised over the South Carolina Statehouse in 1962, during the darkest days of the civil rights movement, symbolizes racism at its worst,” Wachs said in the motion.

Wachs’ motion also decries the stand taken by some politicians--leaving the decision up to the state of South Carolina--saying “That hardly qualifies as a bold and enlightened stand.”