Ben Jones is probably best known for playing the role of Cooter Davenport on The Dukes of Hazzard, but at the moment he’s known for his adamant defense of the Confederate flag.
Jones spoke out in defense of the Confederate flag on Tuesday, calling it a “symbol that represents the indomitable spirit of independence.”
The actor and former Georgia congressman aired his beliefs via Facebook, in a rant written solely in capital letters.
Ben Jones claims the Confederate flag is a “beloved symbol” now being attacked “in a wave of political correctness that is unprecedented in our nation of free speech and free expression.”
The Dukes of Hazzard franchise became involved in the renewed debate over the Confederate flag when Warner Bros. Consumer Products said they’ll no longer license toy cars or models of General Lee–the famed Dukes of Hazzard car that appeared in the TV series–because it bears the Confederate flag.
The Dukes of Hazzard actor defends the Confederate flag as a symbol of "heritage, not hate" http://t.co/I9ubwXCUVi pic.twitter.com/rngTpG1Lqg
— People magazine (@people) June 24, 2015
Ben Jones has no plans to follow suit. He runs three ‘Cooter’s Place’ stores in Virginia and Tennessee and says he has no plans to stop selling merchandise that bears the Confederate flag.
TO ALL OF OUR FRIENDS AND FANS FROM BEN JONES AKA “COOTER”I THINK ALL OF HAZZARD NATION UNDERSTANDS THAT THE…
Posted by Ben Cooter Jones on Tuesday, June 23, 2015
In light of the recent church shooting in Charleston and the decision of South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley to remove the Confederate flag from the state house grounds, Ben Jones is showing his true colors by not only refusing to remove Confederate flag merchandise from his stores, but also by defending his ‘beloved symbol’ on Facebook.
His ‘beloved symbol’ represents a time when it was legal to own slaves.
What’s your take on the actions–or lack thereof–on behalf of the Dukes of Hazzard actor?
