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<p>WILKES-BARRE &#8212; Gene Stilp plans to burn a combination Confederate/Nazi flag outside the Luzerne County Courthouse at noon Thursday, Nov. 16.</p><p>The political activist and one-time candidate for Congress is conducting a county-by-county courthouse tour asking the question: &#8220;Is there racism in your county?&#8221;</p><p>Stilp said his educational effort is aimed at bringing attention to prejudice in Pennsylvania by directing attention at symbols of racism.</p><p>&#8220;Is there racism in Pennsylvania? How do we quantify it? How do we get rid of it?&#8221; Stilp asked in a news release.</p><p>Stilp will embark on his tour at the Perry County Courthouse in New Bloomfield on Nov. 9 by burning a Confederate/Nazi flag outside that courthouse at noon.</p><p>The protest will continue at the Luzerne County Courthouse on Nov. 16 at noon before going to the Adams County Courthouse in Gettysburg on Nov. 17, the day before Gettysburg Remembrance Day, where Confederate and Union troop re-enactors will parade through the city.</p><p>Stilp has requested a permit under the First Amendment to safely burn the flag in a metal trash can on public property near the Luzerne courthouse&#8217;s steps.</p><p>He said the entire demonstration will take a half hour. No entrance will be blocked and the public will not be impeded in any way.</p><p>Stilp plans to attend the Luzerne County Council budget meeting Monday to answer any questions.</p><p>Luzerne County Manager David Pedri said the county does not require a permit for such a demonstration but he told Stilp that it must be done in a safe manner without impeding access. Pedri said any burning should take place on a grassy area and not on a sidewalk. He said the county Sheriff&#8217;s Department will be present to assure the safety of people and property.</p><p>Pedri also told Stilp to check with the City of Wilkes-Barre to determine if a permit is needed.</p><p>Ted Wampole, city administrator, said no permit would be required. However, he doesn&#8217;t believe this type of &#8220;open burning&#8221; would be allowed under the city&#8217;s current ordinance. Wampole said he will seek the city solicitor&#8217;s opinion and contact Stilp.</p><p>Stilp began this effort in September when the Bloomsburg Fair Association board voted unanimously to allow its vendors to sell Confederate flags.</p><p>To direct attention to the meaning of the Confederate flag, Stilp chose a combined flag &#8212; one side represents the Confederacy and the other side displays a swastika &#8212; to dramatically make the point that both flags represent misguided value systems.</p><p>&#8220;Both flags represent racism, hatred, bigotry, white supremacy, slavery, intimidation, intolerance, and death,&#8221; Stilp said. &#8220;Both flags are used by white supremacist groups.&#8221;</p><p>In Columbia County, Stilp was allowed to burn the flag outside the courthouse in a demonstration that attracted a small gathering.</p><style>
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<div class="neCaption">Stilp </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/web1_Stilp-Gene.jpg</photo0><caption0>Stilp </caption0><photoCredit0></photoCredit0></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Bill O&#8217;Boyle</p><p>boboyle@www.timesleader.com</p></bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta><p>Reach Bill O&#8217;Boyle at 570-991-6118 or on Twitter @TLBillOBoyle.</p></shirttailMeta></div>

Activist plans to burn Confederate/Nazi flag near Luzerne County Courthouse