A line of pickup trucks, small sedans and minivans, all adorned with Confederate flags, and some American flags, traveled from Bristol, Virginia, to Johnson City, Tennessee, on Friday.
National discussion of the Confederate flag and other Confederate symbols has heightened following last month’s shooting of nine black churchgoers in Charleston, South Carolina. The suspect in the case, Dylann Roof, reportedly embraced Confederate symbols, and posed with the battle flag in online postings. As a result, various political leaders and companies have sought the flag’s removal from stores and venues.
“I know there are people in this area that love this flag and want to speak up,” said Alex Adams, a 17-year-old from Bristol, Tennessee.
So he decided to do something. A couple days ago, Adams went on Facebook and put together a Freedom Ride event. He declared the event a “pro-American freedom rally.” Participants, he said, could showcase the Confederate flag, the American flag or the Gadsden flag, or more commonly known as the “Don’t Tread on Me” flag.
“I didn’t see this flag walk in [the church],” Adams said. “It was so sad what happened in Charleston. That guy did not represent anything that the South stood for.”
He asked that the public read up on history regarding the flag and Confederacy. He referred to old history books as a possible source for information.
“Read up and make sure you know exactly what the real details are,” he said, noting that the flag was not about slavery, but state’s rights.
Adams, whose ancestors fought for the Confederacy during the Civil War, was pleased with the turnout Friday. One ancestor, he said, lost a leg during the Battle of Shiloh in Tennessee.
“They [his ancestors] didn’t have slaves,” Adams said.
“They were just fighting because they felt they were being oppressed.”
While waiting in the rain Friday, Adams thanked the participants, a group of about 20 to 30 people from throughout the region. A couple participants said they also attended a Confederate flag rally in Elizabethton, Tennessee.
“I love all of these people,” he said. “It’s great that everyone came out today, even in this bad weather.”
Shortly after 6 p.m., the line of vehicles began passing through downtown Bristol before traveling along Volunteer Parkway toward Johnson City.
Participants also drove through the Bristol Motor Speedway parking lot to show their support for the flag.
NASCAR Chairman Brian France has recently called the Confederate flag “an insensitive symbol” he personally finds offensive, and has sought for the flag’s elimination from events. His remarks, and subsequent support from circuit tracks around the country, have upset many fans who support the flag.
As the parade participants drove through the BMS parking lot Friday, they honked their horns and waved flags out of their windows. They also stopped briefly in front of the coliseum for photos.
The group continued on to Johnson City, where they planned to stop at the East Tennessee State University baseball stadium.
Adams’ mother said her son is an active conservative who has attended several events he has felt strongly about.
“More and more rights of ours are being taken away because of political correctness,” Adams said.
There have been a few Confederate flag rallies in the region over the last week. Another one is being planned by students from Sullivan South High School. The rally is expected to start at 5:30 p.m. Monday at Warrior’s Path State Park in Kingsport.
