Heritage Day Celebration, a three day annual event celebrating the Sea Islands' African American culture, attracts approximately 10,000 people and is recognized as one of the state's leading tourist attractions. According to Mr. Emory Campbell, Penn Center's Executive Director, the NAACP's boycott, which is in response to the flying of the Confederate Flag over South Carolina's State Capitol building, has made it difficult to promote the event due our largely African American audience. As in previous years we believe that our friends would like to attend Heritage Days to participate in the Cultural offering and to support Penn Center.
However, there are firm indications that our market is in strong support of the NAACP's stand and is reluctant to violate the boycott by traveling to the state.
He stated that the chance of a substantial decrease in attendance is to great a risk and it is in the best interest of Penn Center to cancel the event.
Penn Center with a long history of addressing relevant social issues intends to continue to encourage ongoing dialogue in a effort to help bring a resolution to the Flag issue.