CONFEDERATE FLAG

Authorities say Lambert, who spearheaded flying a massive Confederate flag at the corners of two busy Florida interstates, has died. Officers say they found the 73-year-old dead on his small farm in Tampa on Wednesday, Feb. 17, 2021. (AP Photo/Tamara Lush, File)TAMPA, Fla. – A man who bragged of tricking local Florida officials into letting him fly a massive Confederate flag at the corners of two busy interstates has died, authorities said. Police said officers found 73-year-old Marion Lambert dead on his small farm in Tampa on Wednesday. In 2008, he unfurled a 30-by-50-foot flag — at the time it was the biggest Confederate flag in the nation — much to the disgust of many.

PALATKA, Fla. A small Florida county will move its monument honoring Confederate soldiers from its spot in front of the courthouse. The Putnam County Commission voted 4-1 Tuesday to move the statue, using private donations, but did not decide when or where it will be moved. The monument consists of a Confederate soldier standing with a rifle atop a an approximately 20-foot (6-meter) granite base. The statue is in the county seat Palatka its population is 43% Black. This monument has been here for a long time and not caused a problem.The decision came weeks after nearby St. Augustine also voted to move its Confederate memorial.

(AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack, File)The familiar scene of Confederate flags waved by fans at NASCAR tracks could soon be a relic of racing’s good ol’ boy roots. So it starts with Confederate flags. Not everyone obliged and fans staunchly defended their Confederate flags and raised them from their RVs. Two-time Daytona 500 champion Denny Hamlin said he would support NASCAR taking a hard line on the Confederate flag. Earlier this year, the Marine Corps mandated that all Confederate flags, bumper stickers and similar items be removed from bases.

BRANDON, Fla. A huge Confederate battle flag has been lowered from its towering pole near Interstates 4 and 75 outside Tampa after threats appeared on social media to set it on fire during protests of the killings of black people by white authorities. David R. McCallister, who leads the local chapter of the Sons of Confederate Veterans, wants people to know that removing the 30-foot by 60-foot battle flag wasnt a decision made in fear. The decision was we would (temporarily) take down the flag in the bests interests of preserving the park overall, he told the Tampa Bay Times. We dont want the flag to be an excuse for anyone to do illegal acts.The flag flies on a 139-foot flag pole, erected in Confederate Memorial Park in 2008 for the 200th birthday of Jefferson Davis, president of the Confederate States of America. McCallister posted on Facebook on Sunday that the flag was considered a high visibility target" for protests in response to the death of George Floyd in police custody in Minneapolis.

National Urban League's Marc Morial discusses South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley calling for the removal of the confederate flag from the statehouse grounds.