La Plata, MD – The Charles County Commissioners will have a discussion Tuesday, Aug. 29 about the displaying of a Confederate flag by the Sons of Confederate Veterans at the county fair scheduled for Sept. 14-17.
“It’s something that’s been on my mind for the past two years,” said Charles County Commissioner Ken Robinson [D-District 1]. “Two years ago, I asked the fair board that they not permit the flag to be displayed. The board got back to me and basically told me that it was none of my business.”
Janice Wilson, president of the Charles County NAACP stated during the group’s 75th anniversary celebration earlier this year that the flag was a concern.
“Yeah, and it still is,” she said. “We’ve been trying to work with the president of the fair and the board, but we’re still waiting. Our position was the same in 2015 when we brought a news crew from Channel 4 and explained that given the current climate with the protests that are going on now, it is very concerning to me to have that flag on display at the county fair.
“My fear is, having that flag will cause an argument and the discussion could turn into something ugly,” she said. “It will have nothing to do with the fair board. Dylan Roof used that flag when he killed people in South Carolina. Anyone who saw what went on in Charlottesville with the flag flying around as a symbol of hate should realize our concern. We met with the fair board representatives and expressed our position. We are very concerned about the climate.
“The Charles County Fair is a big time,” Wilson added. “It’s a time for the community to come together. It’s supposed to be fun and positive.”
Robinson stressed that the board isn’t demanding that the flag be removed.
“Let me be clear, we are requesting,” he said. “We’re in no position to demand. But I haven’t set foot at the fair in two years and as long as that flag is being displayed, I won’t.”
Requests for comment from the Private Wallace Bowling Chapter of the Sons of Confederate Veterans and the president of the Charles County Fair were unanswered as of publication. The discussion is scheduled for 5:45 p.m. Aug. 29 at the Charles County Commissioners Meeting Room.
Contact Joseph Norris at joe.norris@thebaynet.com