Ben Jones, who played Cooter on the “Dukes of Hazzard,” is defending the Confederate flag because he says it’s a symbol of the “indomitable spirit” of independence, not racism.
Debate over the Confederate flag has raged since Dylann Roof entered a South Carolina church and shot nine people. That debate reached the “Dukes of Hazzard” on Tuesday when Warner Bros. announced that the “General Lee” — the famed red-orange car from the series — was getting the axe. (RELATED: Warner Bros. Halts Production Of ‘Dukes of Hazzard’ General Lee Car Toys)
The company said it would no longer produce the 1969 Dodge Charger because it has the Confederate flag printed on the roof.
In response, the 73-year-old made a Facebook post defending the flag.
“That flag on top of the General Lee made a statement that the values of the rural South were the values of courage and family and good times,” Jones wrote.
(Photo: Getty Images)
“Our beloved symbol is now being attacked in a wave of political correctness that is unprecedented in our nation of free speech and free expression. Activists and politicians are vilifying Southern culture and our heritage as being bigoted and racist.”
“We know that this is not the case. And we know that in Hazzard County there was never any racism.”
“Though the flag has been removed from such places as Walmart, Target and Amazon, it will never be removed from any of our Cooter’s stores and museums. We are all the same good people today that we were last week and last year and we are not going to be shamed into turning our backs on our heritage and our convictions.”