|In our opinion, 56 residents|
We are outraged that Confederate reenactors will be marching and flying a Confederate flag in this year’s Memorial Day parade. The Confederate flag:
- Symbolizes racism and white supremacy and has no place at a public event in New Gloucester
- Discourages New Gloucester residents of color from feeling welcome at a community event
- Insults African American veterans and servicemembers who died for our country
- Disrespects the memory of soldiers and sailors from New Gloucester and current residents’ ancestors who fought against the Confederacy to end slavery and preserve the Union
Isn’t Flying the Confederate Flag about History?
There is a difference between memory and commemoration. We should remember all of our history, but we should not honor the shameful parts, especially those that continue to cause harm to our neighbors. There are places for Confederate flags—such as in museums and history books, where context can be explained. There is no place for the Confederate flag in a parade honoring those who fought and died for the United States (not against it, as the Confederates did). Just as we would not want people dressed as Nazis marching in our Memorial Day parade, there should not be people dressed as Confederates in our parade.
How is the Confederate Flag a Hate Symbol?
The Confederate States of America consisted of 11 Southern states that seceded from the United States because they believed that the legal enslavement of African Americans was threatened by the election of Abraham Lincoln as U.S. president in 1860. Confederates renounced loyalty to the United States because they wanted white people to be able to continue to own black people.
Over time, the battle flag of the Army of Northern Virginia, the most successful Confederate army, came to symbolize the entire Confederacy. This flag was adopted by violent white supremacist groups inspired the Confederacy’s racism, such as the Ku Klux Klan. Use of the Confederate flag became prominent in the 1950s and 1960s in support of segregation and against the Civil Rights Movement. White nationalist groups continue to fly the Confederate flag today.
Wasn’t the Civil War about States’ Rights?
Confederates did not want the federal government to limit the spread of slavery. The right that they wanted to protect, to the point of starting a war, was the right for individual states to allow slavery. If there hadn’t been slavery, there wouldn’t have been a Civil War. “States’ Rights” was a legal argument used to protect slavery. After the war, when slavery became illegal, “states’ rights” became a more palatable and noble-sounding way for former Confederates to explain their treason. At the time of the war, Confederates were much more forthright. Confederate Vice President Alexander Stephens said that the Confederacy was founded “upon the great truth that the [racial slur] is not equal to the white man; that slavery, subordination to the superior race, is his natural and normal condition. This, our new government, is the first, in the history of the world, based upon this great physical, philosophical, and moral truth.”
It can’t get any more clear than that. The Confederacy was a white supremacist state. The Confederate flag is racist.
The Confederate flag is a hate symbol embraced by hate groups. The Confederate flag and Confederate reenactors have no place in New Gloucester’s Memorial Day parade. It is disgraceful that the town and AMVETS have continued to embrace a symbol of hate in our streets, and refuse to discuss the issue or history. Memorial Day honors American heroes, not Confederate traitors, and so should our parade. Our town welcomes and respects people of all races, and so should our town parade.
Signed by New Gloucester Residents:
*Indicates person has a family member(s) who is serving in or who served in the United States Armed Forces; **Indicates person is serving in or has served in the United States Armed Forces.
Bonnie Waybright*
Adam Gilman*
Alyson Spencer-Reed*
Anne Keith*
Antonina Planson*
Benjamin Loveless*
Caitlyn Davison*
Cameron Dufty*
Carol F. Gillis
Cecile Sullivan Rohrbach
Chris Blackburn*
Hannah Blackburn*
Dana Fadel*
David Bartoletti*
Debra Smith*
Ellie Fellers
Emilienne Biddings-Augustine*
Eric Rohrbach
Erin Bartoletti
Fred Brusseau*
Gina Gauvin
Greta A. Atchinson*
Heather Augustine*
Jacinda J. Cotton-Castro
Jacob Kemer
Jason D. Campbell*
Jeff Roberts
Jessica Rockwell
Jonathan Doughty*
Julie Fralich*
Michael Fralich*
Kerry Loupe
Kimberly Brusseau
Laura Fralich*
Laura Ingalls*
Lauren Jordan
Marcia Davison**
Marie Camillo Reimensndyer*
Mary Beth Johnson*
Thomas Johnson*
Melissa Sturgis Elie*
Nick Planson*
Noreen Williams*
Patricia A. Vampatella*
Peg Becksvoort*
Penny Collins*
Rachel Spencer-Reed*
Renee Kramer
Rowan McDaniel
Sarah Gusky Kemer
Sasha Nyary*
Stephen Kappes*
Tony Castro*
Sarah McDaniel
Kathleen Potter*
Allan Menne
