Commissioners vote to remove all flags, but American, from Pensacola Bay Center
Updated: Friday, December 12 2014, 12:02 PM CSTFor years, the Pensacola Bay Center has flown the Confederate battle flag. The most well known flag, with white stars atop diagonol blue bars and a red background, was never an official flag of the Confederacy. It was used by soldiers, in battle, but not by the government itself.
Aubey Smith, Commander of the Pensacola Sons of Confederate Veteransa, says "it's our heritage. It's our ancestry. The 600,000 men, women and children who died during that conflict, it's not something that can be swept under the rug by not showing that flag."
Others see something far more sinister in the flag.
Katrina Ramos says "what I see from the Confederate flag is oppression. What I see from the Confederate flag is slavery. So who's heritage are they talking about."
In 2000, the city of Pensacola voted to stop flying the battle flag. They replaced it on city buildings with a national flag of the Confederacy. At the time, the Escambia County Commission voted unanimously to keep flying the flag.
One resident said "as a citizen of this county, who's money, along with all these other folks, goes to support our public buildings and our government, this is a very inappropriate symbol."
Thursday evening, the Commission heard arguments from supporters of the flag, and those who want it down. Dozens of county residents attended and spoke out. After nearly an hour of discussion and debate, the commission voted to remove the Confederate battle flag from the Pensacola Bay Center .. and all county government buildings. Their new rule says that only the American flag may fly. The only exception is the flag of Florida, and only if it is already in place.
Says Ramos, "we have so much racial tension in our country right now. And so what I want to see from Pensacola is, let us be the first to be an example. Let's start removing these things that are creating racial tension."
The vote passed four to one, with only district one Commissioner Wilson Robertson objecting.
Others see something far more sinister in the flag.
Katrina Ramos says "what I see from the Confederate flag is oppression. What I see from the Confederate flag is slavery. So who's heritage are they talking about."
In 2000, the city of Pensacola voted to stop flying the battle flag. They replaced it on city buildings with a national flag of the Confederacy. At the time, the Escambia County Commission voted unanimously to keep flying the flag.
One resident said "as a citizen of this county, who's money, along with all these other folks, goes to support our public buildings and our government, this is a very inappropriate symbol."
Thursday evening, the Commission heard arguments from supporters of the flag, and those who want it down. Dozens of county residents attended and spoke out. After nearly an hour of discussion and debate, the commission voted to remove the Confederate battle flag from the Pensacola Bay Center .. and all county government buildings. Their new rule says that only the American flag may fly. The only exception is the flag of Florida, and only if it is already in place.
Says Ramos, "we have so much racial tension in our country right now. And so what I want to see from Pensacola is, let us be the first to be an example. Let's start removing these things that are creating racial tension."
The vote passed four to one, with only district one Commissioner Wilson Robertson objecting.
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