A giant 20-by-30 foot Confederate flag was raised along a busy highway in North Carolina this weekend to mark the Fourth of July, and, despite some complaints, local officials say there’s nothing that can be done about it.
Local network WSOCTV reports that the Sons of Confederate Veterans raised the flag on Friday on an 80-foot pole along Interstate 40. It marks one of several Confederate flags that has been raised in the area after Gov. Roy Cooper (D) announced in June that all Confederate monuments on state Capitol property would be removed.
“The Sons of Confederate Veterans, we’re trying to replace the statue with flags, and we try to put them on the interstate so more people can see it,” Elgie McGalliard told the local station. “Take down our statues, and we’re going to put up a flag somewhere along the major interstates in North Carolina.”
The group said they were raising the large flag to mark the Fourth of July weekend and their heritage.
Some have already complained about the flags, but officials say they are on private property and there are no ordinances against it.
“I’ve had numerous contacts from people saying they wouldn’t do business in town because of that flag,” nearby Hildebran Mayor Wendell Hildebrand told WSOCTV.
He added that the $800 used to make the flag could have been “better used to help veterans.”
has condemned the removal of statues and has announced a new executive order to punish those who vandalize monuments.
*story by The Hill