When the political whirlwind dies down after South Carolina’s Democratic presidential primary on Feb. 3, the state chapter of the NAACP has a message for visitors: “Don’t come back.”

The civil rights group continues to push its economic boycott of the state and wants any tourists or businesses to stay away until the Confederate flag is removed from State House grounds.

But the White House hopefuls have been given a temporary reprieve from the sanctions as they bring an entourage of campaign staff and media and spend thousands of dollars on advertisements, travel and food leading up to the state’s first-in-the-South primary.

“A presidential candidate is trying to win a national office and we understand they are going to be coming into South Carolina,” said state chapter president James Gallman. “They have made it known they are not in defiance of the sanctions.

“They have made it known that they believe strongly that the Confederate flag should not be placed in its current location.”

U.S. Sens. John Edwards of North Carolina and Joe Lieberman of Connecticut stay in private homes during every visit to the state to honor the boycott.

A spokeswoman for U.S. Rep. Dick Gephardt said he agrees with the goals and principles of the boycott, but chooses to stay in hotels to support the workers of the state.

The Rev. Joe Darby, vice president of the state NAACP, said he understands other campaigns try to stay with supporters, but sometimes it’s logistically impossible.

When their campaigns in South Carolina are finished, though, he won’t hang out the welcome sign. “Don’t come back down for pleasure,” Darby said.

Staying in private homes may sometimes benefit the candidates. The Rev. Willy Givens Jr. hosted Edwards at his Charleston home this summer and said it reinforced his support for the senator.

By avoiding hotels and supporting the boycott, Edwards has more credibility with black voters because it shows he “supports the needs of minorities,” Givens said.

Gallman said the Democratic primary will draw attention to the ongoing struggles of inequality in education, justice and jobs across the state as well as the boycott.

The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People’s annual Martin Luther King Day rally Jan. 19 will feature Stratford High School students who were ordered to the floor during a drug sweep by police with guns drawn. NAACP leaders say it targeted black students.

Gallman said the rally will remind legislators of the NAACP’s push to rid the State House grounds of the Confederate flag.

None of the presidential candidates has been invited to speak at the rally, which drew up to 40,000 people before the flag was moved from atop the State House dome to a Confederate monument in 2000.