Rebel Flag Allowed to Fly at Veterans Day Parade
Despite protests, the city of Homestead said they won't ban the controversial symbol
By JESSICA SICK
Updated 8:24 AM EDT, Fri, Sep 4, 2009
Over a century later, the Confederacy seems to have won.
It's a small battle, of course, but it looks like Homestead's Veteran's Day Parade will happen, and, despite protests by the NAACP, organizers decided they could not ban the displaying of the Confederate flag, according to the Miami Herald.
The controversy over the flag began last November, when black residents became outraged that the city allowed the symbol to fly during Veterans Day events.
"I think the Confederate soldiers have always been in the parade. I've seen them there," Chamber of Commerce chairman Jerome Williams told the South Florida Times back in April. "So, why is it an issue this time? I understand the debate, but I've done my own research and realize there were many black people in the Confederacy."
Tensions further flared when the Human Relations Board, who supported the ban, was dismantled by the city - which is not involved in planning the parade -- insisting that it was because of the desire to take it in a different direction, not because of the flag controversy.
A couple months later, the military affairs committee considered canceling the parade altogether, but ultimately decided to go ahead with the festivities, though, according to military affairs chairman Jeffrey Wander, there's a simple solution to saving the drama.
"We can't take a position on this," Wander told the Miami Herald, "but we hope the Sons of Confederate Veterans don't bring the battle flag.''
That scenario doesn't seem likely, though.
``It's hard to march in a parade without our flag," said Gregory Kalof, commander of the Miami chapter of the Sons of Confederate Veterans. "It's like going to a rodeo without a horse."
The NAACP did not return calls yesterday for comment.
First Published: Sep 4, 2009 6:00 AM EDT
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