Confederate flag causes stir at Marion County Fair
INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — A Confederate flag has been flying at a booth at the Marion County Fair.
On Thursday night, the vendor decided to take it down due to pressure from the public.
The Marion County Fair hadn’t received any complaints in person and just one phone call complaint since the fair opened last weekend.
But officials said the vendor decided with everything going on in South Carolina and the country this week surrounding the Confederate flag, that it would be best to take it down.
To the vendor of the fair booth, the Confederate flag is a symbol of his Southern heritage.
But to fair-goer Ross Hamilton, it has a much darker connotation.
“I know I’m going to upset people, but to me that just means hatred, that’s all white supremacy,” Hamilton said.
Hamilton feels it’s inappropriate for the “stars and bars” to be flown after the shooting massacre in South Carolina and the fallout across the country.
“It should be taken down after what has happened, I mean that’s offensive, it really is,” Hamilton said.
The fair vendor did not wish to go on camera about the controversy.
WISH-TV contacted Marion County Fair officials to get their thoughts.
Board President Ron Phillips said the fair had no problem with the Confederate flag because of its historical significance and because of the variety of other groups represented on his merchandise.
“All military is represented, most faiths are represented, a lot of Christian,” Phillips said.
The fair planned to allow the flag to be flown for the rest of its duration.
Then Thursday evening, the vendor decided on his own to take down the display.
“After some conversation, he’s agreed that he doesn’t want to cause controversy for us and due to the sensitivity of what’s going on and all the headlines around the country, he has agreed to remove the flag for the duration of our fair,” Phillips said.
This is the vendor’s first year at this fair.
As for next year, Phillips said they will look to evaluate whether they will invite that vendor back and whether they will allow that flag to be for sale or displayed.