Utah Race Fans Appalled When Confederate Flag Flies During National Anthem
A group of Utah race fans was left with a rather difficult decision this weekend when the Confederate flag flew during the national anthem at a West Jordan demolition derby, KTSU (Salt Lake City) is reporting.
We all know that it is customary to stand with your hand over your heart for the national anthem with your cap removed from your head. And while some Americans, of late, have chosen to sit or kneel during the national anthem for whatever reason, the majority still stand.
But what are you supposed to do if a symbol of slavery and hate is displayed while the national anthem is playing? Do you remain standing and show your tacit approval for the Confederate flag? Or do you sit and risk showing disrespect to the Red, White, and Blue?
That was the decision faced by fans at a demolition derby at the West Jordan Fairgrounds in Utah Friday night. Police officer Daniel Argueta and his wife and two daughters were there Friday night, standing for the national anthem, when a truck bearing the Confederate flag drove by.
“You kind of get caught in, yes, you want to stand, you support the US flag. You support the troops, you support police officers, but what is the Confederate flag doing there? For anybody that knows history and understands the negative impact of that flag and how it’s been used historically, it’s hard to stand up.”
Family upset after Confederate flag flies during national anthem at West Jordan derby https://t.co/n5tpZc8yLd pic.twitter.com/uvk2UyIVX8
— FOX 13 News Utah (@fox13) September 12, 2016
The sentiment was echoed by Argueta’s 10-year-old daughter, Jasmine.
“When I saw the Confederate flag, I didn’t want to stand because it meant slavery.”
Of course, whether or not the Confederate flag is a symbol of racism and slavery is a matter of dispute. Supporters say that it’s about “heritage, not hate.” Supporters claim the Confederate flag is a symbol of pride in the South and its cultural and historical traditions, according to Ben Jones, chief of heritage operations for the Sons of Confederate Veterans, in a New York Times guest column. The Southern Poverty Law Center disagrees, however, calling the Confederate flag a hate symbol.
The Argueta family clearly believes the latter, and they chose not to stand during the national anthem while it was displayed.
“It was humiliating, it was demeaning, because with all the controversy going on with the flag recently and people sitting during the anthem, we had all intended to stand, but we couldn’t. People probably looked around, probably wondering what we were doing.”
No one reacted harshly to Argueta’s decision to remain seated, which is actually rather fortunate, considering that in Alabama, a high school football announcer told the crowd that if they didn’t stand for the national anthem, they deserved to be shot, according to this report by the Inquisitr. In Florida, a woman allegedly slapped a child for not putting her hand over her heart during the anthem, according to another report by the Inquisitr.
Brian Clegg, Parks and Recreation Director for the City of West Jordan, which sponsored the demolition derby, said that the Confederate flag display was not approved by the city, and it appears that one of the drivers in the derby decided to fly the Confederate flag on his own. Clegg says that the city discussed the matter with the promoter, Stirrin’ Dirt, and the flag was removed.
In a statement, West Jordan City Council spokesperson Kim Wells apologized for the incident.
“We strive to bring family friendly entertainment to the arena and regret that this incident made some patrons feel uncomfortable. We will be discussing steps we can take to make sure it doesn’t happen again.”
Would you have remained standing during the national anthem if a display of the Confederate flag had been included?
[Image via Shutterstock/Jiri Flogel]
