Thousands rallying around petition to add hip hop group ‘OutKast’ on Stone Mountain

If thousands of MoveOn.org petitioners had their way, Stone Mountain would become Stankonia Mountain.

A petition to have the popular hip hop group, OutKast, has gone viral on the Internet, and picking up thousands of signatures on Thursday after news about the request broke. As of 2 p.m. on Thursday, the petition had about 4,830 signatures calling for a rendering of Andre 3000 and Big Boi in a Cadillac to be added alongside Confederacy President Jefferson Davis and Gens. Robert E. Lee and Stonewall Jackson.

“By no means do we wish to erase or destroy the current carving, which, regardless of its context, is an impressive and historic work of art,” petition author Mack Williams wrote. “We simply wish to add new carvings, of Atlanta hip-hop duo OutKast, to the mountainside. There’s plenty of room … This will help the new carving blend nicely with the Confederates who are on horseback.”

Stone Mountain found itself caught in the brewing controversy surrounding Confederate symbols earlier this week after the Atlanta NAACP chapter called for all symbols of the Confederacy removed. The Confederate flag and other symbols of the south’s failed attempt to break away from the Union during the Civil War have been under fire since a deadly shooting in a Charleston, S.C., church last month.

Williams wrote in the petition that the group deserved inclusion on Stone Mountain because of their successes, adding they were key figures in Georgia history, alongside figures such as James Oglethorpe and Button Gwinnett.

“OutKast are two of the greatest Georgians in the history of our state,” Williams wrote. “It’s about time the Empire State of the South paid proper tribute to them, while also improving a great monument and tourist attraction.”

The petition is directed to Gov. Nathan Deal and both chambers of the Georgia General Assembly, and has gained signatures from around the world. The decision has energized several signers, who enthusiastically endorsed the idea.

“This is literally the only way to repair race relations and fully make amends for the wrongs (committed) by the south,” Kalispell, Mont. resident Jeremy Ohs wrote with his signature on the petition.

“The new heroes of the south,” Tinley Park, Ill. resident Harold Ardman wrote.

Most of the signers are from the United States, however, and several listed Georgia addresses in their signatures.

“Stankonia Mountain,” Atlanta resident Chris Zuber wrote in his signature.

Stone Mountain resident Gary Sharpe added, “Get er done.”

While most signers expressed their enthusiasm for the idea in the signatures, some signers opted to have fun with the idea and included puns based off OutKast song lyrics.

“Sorry, Stonewall Jackson. But I am for real,” Austell resident Michelle W. Gunn wrote in her signature.