Ga. Lawmakers Pressured On Flag

Tuesday, January 30th 2001, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

ATLANTA (AP) â€” Almost a half century after Georgia lawmakers voted to put the Confederate battle emblem on the state flag, a tight vote in the Senate could bring an end to the controversial banner.

A new flag, which includes a shrunken version of the current banner, sailed through the House last week with the support of Democratic legislative leaders.

Democrats control the Senate 32-24, and 29 votes were needed for a majority in Tuesday's vote. Gov. Roy Barnes, a Democrat, has said he would sign the bill if it won approval in both chambers.

As the vote approached, nearly everyone was predicting that it would be close.

Some black leaders say the Confederate emblem is a symbol of racism and segregation. The new flag, they say, will stave off a threatened economic boycott of the state.

Southern pride groups say backing the new banner means betraying the state's heritage and giving in to ``economic terrorism.'' The Southern Heritage League rallied in the state Capitol rotunda Monday, calling for a referendum on the flag change.

Many senators spent the weekend seeking out constituents' views and returned Monday to intense lobbying from both sides.

``The pressure is coming out of the governor's office and the business community,'' said Senate Minority Leader Eric Johnson, a Republican. ``They are the big dogs.''

Senate Majority Leader Charles Walker, a Democrat, argued that lobbying efforts would not decide Tuesday's vote.

``I don't think you can get a vote like this on a horse trade,'' he said. ``You get this one on conscience.''

Many legislators said Monday they were still undecided.

The new Georgia flag would feature a gold state seal against a blue field. Along the bottom would be five small replicas of flags that have flown over Georgia, including the current one.

South Carolina recently moved the Confederate flag from atop its Statehouse to a spot on the grounds after several marches, protests and an NAACP travel boycott.

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On the Net:

Sons of Confederate Veterans: http://www.scv.org

National Association for the Advancement of Colored People: http://www.naacp.org