Chamblee54

There is a twelve foot tall statue of Tom Watson in front of the steps to the Georgia State Capital It is on the west side, looking at Central Avenue and Atlanta City Hall.
Mr. Watson is a curious figure. At first a populist who supported the right of freed slaves to vote, he became a rabble rousing anti semite and anti catholic. His publications called for the reorganization of the Ku Klux Klan. During the imprisonment of Leo Frank, he said “The next Jew who does what Frank did, is going to get exactly the same thing that we give to Negro rapists.” Mr. Frank was later abducted from jail and hung from a tree in Marietta, near the site of the Big Chicken.
The green metal likeness of Mr. Watson, with his left armed raised in rhetorical combat, has seen many things over the years. Today, there was a rally for the right of same sex couples to marry. The expression on the statue did not change during the event. One suspects that the anti catholic crusader would have been amused by the call for the church to mind its own business.
The rally was a happy, friendly event. There have been reports of racial unrest at previous prop 8 rallies, but that was not seen by this reporter. In fact, the best costume of the day was worn by a black lady. Another black lady spoke, and said “we are not fighting hate, we are fighting ignorance.”
There was a bulldog in the crowd, who was not camera shy. It was noted that very few people have pet yellow jackets. The dog’s owner did not understand this comment.
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