An AP dispatch reports that Georgia’s Republican-led state legislature is pushing legislation to split off Atlanta’s affluent, largely white suburbs from the city by re-forming Milton County, which was absorbed into Fulton County in 1932. Supporters of the move are branding it a tax issue, since the would-be secessionists represent 29% of Fulton, yet pay 42% of all taxes. Opponents are issuing the usual threats, with Democratic State Senator Vincent Ford, whose district is in Atlanta, threatening that“ If [the bill] gets to the floor, there will be blood on the walls,” warned state Sen. Vincent Fort, an Atlanta Democrat and member of the Legislative Black Caucus, and stating that “As much as you would like to think it’s not racial, it’s difficult to draw any other conclusion.”

According to the AP, “The measure would require the support of two-thirds of both the House and Senate. Then it would have to put to a statewide vote. Also, residents of what would become Milton County would have to endorse the plan.” That leaves Republicans three votes short in the Senate, and 14 in the House.

The plan comes in the aftermath of last year’s exceptionally nasty campaign season, lowlighted by an ad in which Atlanta Mayor Shirley Franklin, and civil rights vets and politicians John Lewis and Andrew Young claimed that a vote for a Republican—and a moderate one at that—to the county commission would be akin to rolling back the civil rights movement:

"This is Congressman John Lewis."

"And I'm Mayor Shirley Franklin"

"And I'm Andy Young"

(John Lewis) "On November 7th we face the most dangerous situation we ever have. If you think fighting off dogs and water hoses in the sixties was bad, imagine if we sit idly by and let the right-wing Republicans take control of the Fulton County Commission."

(Shirley Franklin) "The efforts of Martin and Coretta King, Hosea Williams, Maynard Jackson and many others will be lost. That's why we must stand up and we must turn out the vote for the Democrats on Election Day."

(Andy Young) "And especially for John Eaves for Fulton County Commission Chairman. Unless you want them to turn back the clock on equal rights and human rights and economic opportunity for all of us, vote for John Eaves as Fulton County Chairman"

(Lewis) "Your very life may depend on it."

There's irony, then, in the ad playing a role in fueling the secession movement.