A firefighter’s Confederate flag display was featured during a parade in Albert Lea, Minnesota. The photo went viral since it showed the Confederate flag on a fire truck right next to the standard American flag. Once the fire department noticed, they had 43-year-old Brian Nielsen suspended, but he says he only flew the Confederate flag in order to oppose political correctness.
In a related report by the Inquisitr , NASCAR’s Confederate flag ban was met by defiance by fans at the Daytona Speedway. Some people are also trying to replace Confederate memorials with markers indicating where black lynching took place in the past.
Brian Nielsen flew both the Confederate flag and American flags on the back of the Heartland Fire Department truck in the Fourth of July parade. The attention the firefighter’s Confederate flag would receive surprised Nielsen, but he says the display was intended to be a comment on political correctness, not racism, slavery, or the history of the American civil war.
“It was my decision and I didn’t think it was going to be a big deal, but boy was I wrong,” Nielsen told The Associated Press . “I don’t see race. Black and white are the same to me. My belief is that ‘politically correct’ is going too far.”
The Charleston church shooting ignited a controversy over the Confederate flag since the shooter, Dylann Storm Roof, showed photos of himself on social media while near a Confederate flag. Hartland Fire Chief Trent Wangen suspended the volunteer firefighter pending an investigation, but Nielsen thinks he will be “more than likely” asked to step down. If that request is made he has already said he would agree with the decision.
“I will out of respect for them, yes I will,” he said, according to CBS . “I’m sorry I hurt my city and hurt the fire department.”
Brian Nielsen said he believes the fire chief is upset about the negative attention being cast on Albert Lea, Minnesota. The firefighter plans on attending this week’s Albert Lea chamber of commerce meeting in order to formally apologize for his actions. Randy Kehr, the chamber’s executive director, called the incident unfortunate, but also notes the firefighter has freedom of speech. Nielsen also reiterated that he is not racist, or in favor of slavery, but he did not think that flying the Confederate flag during a Fourth of July parade would generate such a backlash.
Hartland, MN Volunteer Fire Dept major fail in Albert Lea Independence Day parade July 3. #ConfederateFlag #wrongside http://t.co/ajGtrvsKX1
— Dale Moerke (@demoerke) July 4, 2015
[Image via Twitter/Lance Frank]
