Here's an article from the Mecklenburg Sun out of Clarksville Virginia. Be sure to go to their website and leave them a comment.

Confederate flag gets teens turned away at the movies

By Susan Kyte
Mecklenburg Sun
SoVaNow.com / July 22, 2015
The controversy over the Confederate flag found its way to Mecklenburg County this weekend — flaring up, of all places, at the movies.

Sunday afternoon in South Hill, four white teenagers were refused service at the South Hill Cinema after they pulled up in the parking lot flying the Confederate flag from their pickup truck. The owner of the theater, a retired Air Force Master Sergeant who is African-American, turned the teens away.

Following the incident, family members of those involved took to social media to complain about their treatment and perceived discrimination for displaying the alternately revered and reviled Confederate banner.

Theater owner Lloyd Meredith was unmoved: “I asked them to leave my property because as I said, as a black man, I’m offended.”

Katie Newcomb, 16, of Chase City and three of her friends — all between the ages of 16 and 17 — pulled into the South Hill Cinema parking lot around 4 p.m. hoping to see the “Minions” movie. Flying from the truck was a Confederate flag. The parties involved give differing accounts on whether the flag was mounted in back of the truck or on the front antennae, but neither side disputes the flag was prominently displayed.

All agree that as the driver was parking the truck, cinema owner Meredith approached him. As Meredith recalled, “At approximately 4 p.m., a black pickup truck … came into the parking lot of the theatre and attempted to park. I was selling tickets at the box office and promptly went outside and asked them to leave. The driver was a white male, about 17 with blonde curly hair, and I believe there were three passengers. In the back of the truck was a pole approximately 6 feet high, with a 5 x 7 Confederate flag attached to it.”

Katie remembered his exact words this way: “Y’all can’t stay on my property with that flag, you have to leave now!”

According to Katie’s mother, Shauna Newcomb, who did not personally witness the episode but who relayed her daughter’s version of events for this article, the driver offered to remove the flag from his truck, but nevertheless was ordered to leave the premises, and was told that if the four did not leave the police would be contacted.

The teenagers departed the theater parking lot, without further discussion or incident, said Newcomb. She said all four were upset by what happened.

“They rented a Red Box movie and sat around here watching it,” she said.

Newcomb described the four teens as regular churchgoers who celebrate their heritage by displaying the flag. All four had been to the South Hill theater before, but not while displaying a Confederate banner.

Sunday’s incident raises the bigger question of whether Meredith was within his rights to refuse service to the four teenagers. The Civil Rights Act of 1964 prohibits discrimination by privately-owned places of public accommodation on the basis of race, color, religion or national origin. Places of “public accommodation” include hotels, restaurants, theaters, banks, health clubs and stores.

Protections under the law do not extend to flying the Confederate flag. Meredith explained his rationale in an e-mail response: “I was born and raised in Lunenburg County and I am not only a single parent of three young men, I am also a retired Master Sergeant from the United States Air Force and taught AFJROTC at Park View High School from August 2002-June 2011. On 21 September 2009, my oldest son, PFC William Lee Meredith, age 26, was killed in Khandahar, Afghanistan by an IED. My father, my brother, my son, three nephews, two first cousins and countless relatives have served an eternity in the military defending the rights of all. And I refuse to allow those who can’t move away from the past to impose their feelings upon my guests at South Hill Cinemas. What you do at home is really your business, but what you do here, is MINE and only through diversity and inclusiveness will we, as a people, ever move forward.”

Because of the dearth of Virginia law on the subject, it is very likely that Meredith was within his legal rights to turn the teenagers away.

If challenged, Meredith probably would have to prove that his refusal of service was not arbitrary and he did not apply it to just one group — that there was a reason for refusing service, and that reason has been consistently applied.

The general rule in states such as Virginia that do not have a specific state law regarding public accommodation is that business owners can refuse to serve customers, but they must be careful to show that the denial of service is based on customer behavior, decorum or the health and safety of patrons and employees.

Normally, the refusal of service would only be warranted where the customer’s presence would somehow be distracting to the well-being, safety, and welfare of the other people in the business and the business itself.

Meredith said he is not focusing on the incident. “At South Hill Cinemas we have been very fortunate and blessed to have been able to provide a very affordable and safe environment for the residents of Mecklenburg and our surrounding counties. We have a very loyal fan base and at this time, I choose to devote my time to replacing my theatre seats and installing digital signage for better advertising.” He added, “I pray that for those loyal patrons, their visits to South Hill Cinemas will continue to be pleasant ones.”

Newcomb said she would not be surprised if the teenagers never returned to South Hill Cinemas, and she planned to take her daughter and friends to see “Minions” at a theater in Farmville this week.

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3511
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Good for you, Sgt. Meredith. That flag is a symbol of hate and racism. Period. It's akin to a German flying the flag of Nazi Germany.

Thank you for your family's service to this nation and my deepest condolences on the death of your son in the line of duty.
- By Logan Anderson on 07 / 22 / 15

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Sgt. Meredith thank you for taking a stand, thank you and your family for serving and protecting us from injustice. God bless you
- By Deloris W.Simmons on 07 / 22 / 15

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Could you imagine the outrage if a group of young blacks were denied service due to their looks or if they had rap music blaring away from their vehicle? The NAACP and Al Sharpton with Jesse Jackson in tow would be coming.

Have you ever noticed that the people that claim to preach tolerance are in fact the people that loathe those that dare to think differently than they do?

The Confederate flag stands for heritage and honor, nothing more nothing less. We are having a flag run starting in Chase City this Saturday 10 am Food Lion parking lot.
- By Timothy V. Hatley on 07 / 22 / 15

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The problem with your argument is that they weren't turned away for blaring country music or because they wore boots and a big belt-buckle...they were turned away for prominently displaying a flag that symbolizes discrimination...

Yes, discrimination. Not heritage and honor. The confederate flag that is flown by many actually ISN'T any of the flags that were flown, but one that reached popularity with the rise of the KKK. And just for arguments sake, let's say that it was one of the actual flags that represented the confederation of states that seceded. If you read their articles of secession, they state that a major reason for secession was the fact that they believed slavery of black men and women were crucial to their economy, and their right as slave owners....so if it is about heritage, it is about a heritage of discrimination where one man can own and kill another man on a whim due to the color of his skin. Not a heritage I would take pride in.
- By Shawn on 07 / 22 / 15

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There needs to b a lawsuit. If the state of Oregon can fine a Christian bakery a 135000$ for refusal of service to a gay couple then these families have a case of refusal based on heritage!!
- By Matthew on 07 / 22 / 15

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Ridiculous! When the bakery owners refused to bake a cake for a gay couple's wedding because of their beliefs, they were sued. Can't do for one without doing for all. Period. No matter how you see the flag, it's discrimination.
- By April on 07 / 22 / 15

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This same damn idiot turned away a child that was 2 years and 10 months old to see the minion movie. Because they would possible disturb the other patrons. I hope his business fails and ANYONE that supports him in banning some teenagers because of the flag even after the offered to take it down and lay it in the bed of the truck is proof that they are just as bad, stupid, ignorant and have a low IQ as the owner and his staff.
- By Working hard so the lazy EBT'ers can sit on their on 07 / 22 / 15

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Just goes to show you how stupid the owner is of the South Hill Cinemas. As a black man was he offended last month? Does the United Staes flag offend him as well? I hope bankruptcy doesn't offend him, cause I hope that is where is ignorance will lead him.

Blacks are the most racist people in the US. Don't believe it, just open your eyes and ears. They expect everything to be handed to them. I bet he got a minority loan to open the theater. Do the white people with green money offend him?

Get an education, try opening a book and get some history of the Confederate Flag.
- By Andrew Jackson on 07 / 22 / 15

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Why are white southerners so obsessed about having been born in a certain geographical location? This very concept is one of bewilderment and foreign to most people. Facts are important here. I know most of you country folk don't take too kind to facts but here they are. Your beloved Vice President of the Confederacy Mr. Alexander H. Stephens said these exact words during his "Corner Stone" speech and I quote, "Our new government is founded upon exactly the opposite idea; its foundations are laid, its corner- stone rests, upon the great truth that the negro is not equal to the white man; that slavery subordination to the superior race is his natural and normal condition. This, our new government, is the first, in the history of the world, based upon this great physical, philosophical, and moral truth." The saddest part of all is that even after reading that it will not make a bit of difference in the eyes of the ignorant. That flag represents racism, slavery, and hate.
- By John on 07 / 22 / 15

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I will NEVER go back to this movie theater. The flag is not racist. If you think it's racist, that's probably because YOU are the one that is racist. Get over yourselves and grow the hell up.
- By Anonymous on 07 / 22 / 15

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Let the crazy redneck trolling begin. Did you not read what John wrote? The Vice President of the Confederacy made it painfully clear what that flag represented. "Our new government is founded upon exactly the opposite idea; its foundations are laid, its corner- stone rests, upon the great truth that the negro is not equal to the white man; that slavery subordination to the superior race is his natural and normal condition. This, our new government, is the first, in the history of the world, based upon this great physical, philosophical, and moral truth." How is that NOT RACIST?
- By Samantha on 07 / 22 / 15

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God lord, people! Do you not know history??

Of course that flag is racist! And here is the history of that banner.

In the late 1940s, President Truman integrated the military and federal workforce. As a result, in the 1948 Democratic Convention, Strom Thurmond of South Carolina broke away and ran as a Dixiecrat. Simultaneously, the KKK in the South was rearing its head as civil rights legislation was making its way on the national political stage. They adopted and began using the battle flag as their symbol, displaying it at parades, cross burnings, lynchings, and rallies. Its use proliferated throughout the 1950s and 1960s, as many Southern states incorporated its design in the flags of their own. Some states, like South Carolina, even flew it atop their capitols as a sign of rebellion against Washington.

It is our equivalent of the Nazi flag. Period. And we Southerners, we Virginians need to realize that it's a symbol of hatred and oppression.
- By Logan Anderson on 07 / 22 / 15

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I think he had every right to turn them down ..they were clearly racist nd so is the mom
- By who cares on 07 / 22 / 15

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Must be nice for the ones that claim it is racist to be able to sit on their porch and eat fried chicken and watermelon all day while collecting their Government check while wearing a COTTON shirt.
- By The Hell with Jesse, Al and Big O on 07 / 22 / 15

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Man do I love fried chicken. You stereotype black people to eat chicken and watermelon on porches but truth be told we are eating filet mignon and drinking MOET with money we are getting from our own businesses. Black queens and kinds exist and we are getting that money lol keep working your 9-5.
- By Thugga on 07 / 22 / 15

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Sgt. Meredith has done a lot to improve the South Hill Cinemas by not allowing disruptive behavior that will bother his patrons. Those calling him stupid and making other insults have obviously never met him or they are the stupid ones. He is a fine gentleman who wants the best for our community. He served this country honorably and taught ROTC at Park View where he did his utmost to instill positive virtues in young people. I find it difficult to be sorry for people who have to fly a giant flag to prove something when they know how many people find it offensive. Good for you, Sgt. Meredith.
- By Leigh Howell on 07 / 22 / 15

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That flag WAS flown by numerous Confederate regiments. Troops from the Army of Tennessee,Texas,Louisiana,Mississippi as well as the Confederate Navy flew it.

Here's what a couple of famous men said about the flag. Guess now they're a couple of racists also?

“The flags of the Confederate States of America were very important and a matter of great pride to those citizens living in the Confederacy. They are also a matter of great pride for their descendants as part of their heritage and history.”
Winston Churchill

“To tar the sacrifices of the Confederate soldier as simple acts of racism,and reduce the battle flag under which he fought to nothing more than the symbol of a racist heritage, is one of the great blasphemies of our modern age”.
James Webb-Secretary of Navy And Assistant Secretary of Defense under U.S.President Ronald Reagan, former U.S. Senator (D.VA.)and current candidate for the Democratic Presidential nomination in 2016.
- By Proud Southern Man on 07 / 22 / 15

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Now that the flag issue is settled. Can we please move this to the top of the list.
http://www.infowars.com/msnbc-shills-for-planned-parenthood-as-second-damning-video-is-released/
- By Ban baby crunching on 07 / 22 / 15

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It really does not matter what your views are on the flag or any other matter. Only thing that really matters is that you have your soul saved and are showing the love of Christ to your fellow man. If you do then the flag is irrelevant. Just as that young man who killed those people at that church will pay both physically and spiritually so to will you if you don't have Christ in your life. Before Christ went away he left a commandment and the most important commandment. Love ye one another as I have loved you and love your neighbor as yourself. Do that and the flag is just a flag.
- By Concerned on 07 / 22 / 15

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Sgt. Meredith needs to head over to Ebay and buy himself a Lester Maddox ax handle to keep the rednecks out of his fine establishment.
- By Rather Ironic on 07 / 22 / 15

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