Deal distances himself from Stone Mountain MLK memorial, report says

ATLANTA — Support for a proposed Martin Luther King Jr. memorial atop Stone Mountain took a hit this week when Georgia Gov. Nathan Deal distanced himself from the project, an Atlanta newspaper reported.

“I thought it was a unique idea. But like any good idea, unless you have people to buy into it, what may be a good idea may not prove to be so good after all,” The Atlanta Journal-Constituion quoted Deal as saying. “I think we’re seeing a discussion, a debate perhaps even, within the African-American community as to what their position on that is. And I think that’s a healthy discussion.”

Deal initially gave his support to the project. Both the Sons of Confederate Veterans and civil rights groups have raised concerns about the proposal from the Stone Mountain Memorial Association.