Confederate Flag Causes Uproar In Palestine
PALESTINE (CBSDFW.COM) - The First National Flag of the Confederacy was raised over the Anderson County Courthouse in Palestine on April 1st in celebration of Confederate History Month, but it came down Monday night after protesters said the flag represents the support for slavery.
The groups who raised the flag, The Sons of Confederate Veterans and the United Daughters of the Confederacy say that was not their intent. Mark Robinson, Commander of the John H. Reagan Camp #2156, Sons of Confederate Veterans in Palestine, Texas does not understand why it has raised so much controversy.
Mark Robinson of Reagan Camp #2156, Sons of Confederate Veterans on KRLD
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"We were just trying to honor those brave Confederate soldiers, those brave Veterans who served Anderson County many years ago" said Robinson. He claims the same soldiers they are honoring are the same fathers and sons that settled in the area. "We did not mean to be controversial" he added.
Robinson adds this had nothing to do with supporting slavery and points out that the same Confederate flag flies over the San Jacinto monument as well as Six Flags amusement park in Arlington.
Local members of the Palestine branch of the NAACP attended Friday's event, turning their backs as a show of protest as the flag was hoisted up the flagpole.
The flag in question is a replica of the original Confederate flag, with two red stripes, one white stripe and seven stars on a field of blue. It was originally designed by Prussian artist Nicola Marschall of Marion, Alabama in 1861.
The group voluntarily lowered the flag to restore peace to the community.
Online: Read the script of the flag ceremony held at the Anderson County Courthouse held on April 1st.
