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CIC Wilson Escalates Efforts To Silence His Opponents During the last several days of January 2003, SCV Commander-in-Chief Ron Wilson intensified the purge of those who have publicly opposed his administration: Supporters of Save the Sons of Confederate Veterans. In North Carolina, Wilson removed from office four brigade commanders and nine camp commanders. |
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In an equally unprecedented move, he suspended seven camp charters, targeting them for eventual termination: Winston-Salem, Greensboro, Thomasville, Matthews, Sanford, Siler City, and Stokes County. The suspensions affects approximately 350 North Carolina SCV members (10% of the state’s SCV membership) and advances Wilson’s long-range plan to eliminate the opposition before election-time. This tactic was developed after the Wilson-backed candidate, Kirk Lyons, was defeated by Charles Hawks for the post of ANV Commander last August. Hawk’s days as ANV Commander were numbered from the day he took office.
Implementation of the purge began on November 16, 2002 when Wilson removed the newly elected Hawks and progressed with the firings of North Carolina Division Chief of Staff Lewis Lawrence and Division Historian Larry Walker. The dismissals and suspensions are part of the Wilson/Lyons faction election plan for 2004.
Division officers, brigade officers and camp commanders each have a vote at Division meetings, but they are forbidden to vote while on suspension. The North Carolina Division meeting is scheduled for Roxboro, N.C. on Feb.15th. Now, no one who publicly opposes Wilson’s administration in N.C. can vote at the Division meeting.
These individuals and camps will eventually be brought to trial by Wilson-appointed tribunals. Thus, neither they nor the camps they represent will have a voice at the SCV convention and elections scheduled for next August in Asheville. No doubt the same tactics will be used prior to the national election in 2004.
These individuals and camps have publicly supported the Save the SCV movement. SSCV has, from the beginning, declared its intention to organize a network within the SCV that will work toward voting Wilson and his administration out of office in 2004.
The Wilson/Kirk Lyons leadership of the SCV has worked tirelessly to turn the SCV into a modern political fringe-group by merging the SCV’s leadership with members of the neo-secessionist League of the South and the racist Council of Conservative Citizens. Under Wilson’s leadership, members of these two extremist groups now hold many influential SCV offices. Wilson obviously will not allow opposition candidates, who he doesn’t control, to run for office.
As for SSCV, we are gathering both public and non-public support at an accelerated pace. In the wake of Wilson’s purge, we are getting more volunteers who will initially work behind the scenes so as not to become casualties of Wilson/Lyons-style "demonocracy in action," as one supporter called it.
SCV office-holders have jeopardized their positions in order to support SSCV and in some cases, where only a camp commander and several members have supported SSCV, the charter of the entire camp has been suspended. Check the SSCV website often and tell everyone that cares about Confederate heritage and the SCV to contact us at SaveTheSCV@Yahoo.com or P.O. 297, Eutawville, S.C. 29048-0297.