Fire truck in Albert Lea flies Confederate flag during parade... [View all]

[LW1977]

http://www.startribune.com/aside-stars-and-stripes-firetruck-flies-confederate-flag-in-albert-lea-holiday-parade/311675081/

Just poking a sleeping bear I guess..

LOCAL 311675081
Fire truck flies Confederate flag alongside stars and stripes in Albert Lea holiday parade
Parade sponsor said flying the flag was “unfortunate” but will “essentially be forgotten” in a couple of days.
By Paul Walsh Star Tribune JULY 5, 2015 —
A southern Minnesota firefighter flew a Confederate flag along side Old Glory while he drove a fire truck in a July 4th weekend parade in Albert Lea, and the event’s organizer said Sunday that such a display was “unfortunate” but within the firefighter’s right.

The flag of the South during the Civil War flew at the same height from the back of the fire truck belonging to the Freeborn County town of Hartland during “3rd of July Parade” on Friday in Albert Lea that was organized by the Chamber of Commerce.

The Confederate flag’s display in the South and elsewhere has been at the center of a national debate since the June 17 mass killing in a predominantly black church in Charleston, S.C. The alleged shooter is an advocate of the Southern cause in the Civil War, and he has posted photos of himself with the flag in the past on social media.

The Hartland fire truck was driven by Brian Nielsen, a firefighter for about 10 years with the department. Nielsen said Sunday that he was not endorsing slavery but was fed up with what he views as “political correctness” attacking a symbol that is part of history.

“My view is that PC is going too far taking things out of history,” Nielsen said. “It has nothing to do with slavery. I don’t see color, black or white. We’re all equal.”

Randy Kehr, the chamber’s executive director said, “My personal view is that it was unfortunate” that the Confederate flag was flown in the parade. “Certainly, it’s within their right. It’s a difficult situation. … It’s a part of history. It truly is.”

In Erhard, Minn., this vehicle sported a Confederate flag during this weekend's Fourth of July parade.

In Erhard, Minn., this vehicle sported a Confederate flag during this weekend's Fourth of July parade.
Kehr said he didn’t know ahead of time that the Southern flag would be flown, and if he had, “I would probably have asked [Nielsen] respectfully not to fly it.”

Nielsen said the Confederate flag’s display was his decision alone and he did not think he needed his department’s approval.

“I didn’t think it would bring this much attention,” he said. “I just wanted to stand up and say that PC is not right all the time. They’re actually not right most of the time.”

Before the parade, Nielsen said, a woman wearing a DFL patch on her shirt came up to him and criticized him for having the Confederate flag on the truck. Otherwise, he added, “there were some people who stood up and clapped” as the truck went by with the two flags side by side.

Parade rules distributed to entrants say “all vehicles … must be decorated in either a patriotic theme or according to the parade theme.” This year’s theme: “Teaming Up for America.”

Kehr chuckled a bit and acknowledged that the Hartland fire truck was “probably not” in compliance.

During the community’s fireworks Saturday night, Kehr said, he heard nothing about the Confederate flag flying in the parade.

“I think in about two days it will essentially be forgotten,” he said.

Confederate flag elsewhere

At least one other parade in Minnesota had a Confederate flag displayed during July 4th festivities this weekend. In the Otter Tail County community of Erhard, a four-wheel ATV representing a NAPA auto parts store sported a U.S. flag that was flanked by smaller and lower Confederate and NAPA flags.

“The Fourth of July seems like an odd time to fly the flag of a rebel group that wanted to split the country, whose birth we celebrate, in two,” said parade spectator Ryan Ruud. “Everyone is entitled to exercise their right to freedom of speech. However, when represented with a brand, responsibility and caution generally is taken up a notch.”