While watching the Navy Army Night Parade, a local reverend found himself troubled by a float entry that included multiple Confederate flags.
This was the Sons of the Confederate Veterans second year of participating in the parade.
After being disturbed by the displays of the Confederate flags last Saturday, the Rev. Adam Carrington took his concerns to today’s Nueces County Commissioners meeting.
The reverend clarified that he is not against Civil War history.
In fact, he says Civil War history should absolutely be found in textbooks, but should not be included in public events.
He is hoping County Commissioners will share his position.
“I don’t have any issues with history at all,” said Harrington, who is the senior pastor at Brooks AME Worship Center. “I think history is good. It’s what made me the person that I am today. But I just don’t think you need to teach, or we don’t need to learn history at a public parade. I think that could be done some way else.”
Rev. Carrington plans to make another public statement at the city council meeting next Tuesday, along with eventually speaking to the Buccaneer Commission as well.
The parade entry application from the Sons of the Confederate Veterans states: “We are not affiliated or condone racism or hate groups. We simply want to remember the citizen soldiers who were our ancestors during the war.”
And we received a statement from the Buccaneer Commission that states:
“As a non-profit organization, the Buccaneer Commission does not and shall not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, gender expression, age, national origin (ancestry), political views, disability, marital status, sexual orientation, or military status, in any of its activities or operations.”
The Sons of the Confederate Veterans appear at about the 1-hour, 31-minute mark in the parade rebroadcast below.
