On Saturday June 27th a group of activists traveled to Brooksville with an agenda of burning confederate flags on the courthouse steps as part of a so-called national “Burn the Confederate Flag Day.” The event was heavily publicized on social media and supporters encouraged public flag burning across the nation. Brooksville was a targeted point of interest for one radical group who came to town and found themselves greeted by hundreds of flag desecration opposers.
The activist group which consisted of around fifteen white men and women were representing members of the Uhuru Solidarity Movement out of Saint Petersburg. The radical group is centered on the ideology of ethnic solidarity and parallels their beliefs with those of Pan-Africanism. The objective of their movement is to provide political and economic liberation of the African American community through ethnic cohesion. The Saint Petersburg group made headlines during the 2008 presidential election for interrupting future U.S. President Obama with off topic questioning that supported their cause. The extremist members who paid a visit to the historical Hernando County Courthouse on Saturday had intentions of sparking a flag fire on government property in an attempt to protest against the confederate battle flag and their interpretation of its symbolism.
The notion of removing the Confederate flag follows the recent tragic massacre in South Carolina. The racist killings that took place have evoked an insurgence of activists. Many have pointed toward long standing, historical relics as part of the problem therefore a cause to have these relics removed has presented. The Confederate battle flag is topic of a long running debate between supporters and protesters. The latter argues that the flag represents racism, discrimination, hate, genocide, and slavery. Whereas supporters claim that the rebel flag represents southern heritage, commemoration toward civil war patriots and southern culture. The Civil War was a paramount part of the history of our nation and the evolution of our culture. Perhaps history cannot be viewed nor judged through the lens of the present.
When Uhuru activist’s arrived in Brooksville, they marched from the east parking lot of the courthouse toward the front chanting “solidarity with the black community,” many holding signs and shouting about putting an end to racist acts toward African Americans. The locals and others that had traveled to town to defend the flag and the courthouse met the Uhuru group on the north east lawn of the courthouse, creating a human wall preventing the flag burners from reaching the courthouse steps. Defenders of the Confederate flag recited the Pledge of Allegiance and shouted for activists to leave their town. Protestors and activists stood inches from one another professing their causes nose to nose.
One long time local, Jason Sager climbed in the back of a pickup with his loud speaker and shouted “We love all people, we are a peaceful people, we love our black community, go back from where you came.” Sager went on to say in a later interview “I have been combating the socialist message for over fourteen years now. I moved my family back to Brooksville to get away from this kind of thing. When I heard members of African People’s Socialist Party, Uhuru were coming to Brooksville, I knew I had to act. This ideology is destroying our country and we wanted to send a message that their hate filled message was not welcome here”.
Brooksville police surrounded the area however, the gathering made no cause for action. Local Uhuru organizer and Hernando County resident, Bettyjo Indelicato said “This is about the silent racism in this county not about the Confederate flag.” She would not confirm or deny her intention to set fire to the flag. Jesse Nevel, another Uhuru member said, “The Confederate flag reminds me of the same thing as the American flag, of oppression, genocide, and bloodshed.” He went on to state that our country was founded on the oppression of African people who deserve reparations.
The group never made it to the steps of the Hernando County courthouse. The only flames that were fanned were the figurative flames of protesters from both sides. Downtown business owners braced themselves, watching for the situation to “either escalate or fizzle out” according to one shop owner who had extra staff in preparation for the possibility of the onset of a more violent display. Within an hour of the planned event, the streets of downtown Brooksville returned to their quiet, peaceful nature.
