Fight Brewing Between the NAACP, NASCAR and Homestead-Miami Motor Speedway Over Confederate Flags

Members of the Miami-Dade branch of the NAACP want the Confederate flag banned from the Homestead-Miami Motor Speedway, and they will meet tomorrow to decide whether to boycott a NASCAR race slated there for November. They will also discuss the flag's presence at city-sponsored events like last year's Veterans Day parade as well. However, officials at NASCAR and the raceway have said that there is little they can do to prevent spectators from displaying or waving the Confederate flag. Herein lies the problem, for me at least -- does the government, NASCAR or the speedway management have a right to tell someone they cannot wave a small Confederate flag or wear a t-shirt with a Confederate picture? I thought we had freedom of expression in this country.

NASCAR has a longstanding policy that prohibits displays of the Confederate flag on its cars, uniforms, licensed merchandise or in advertisements, but should they and the Homestead-Miami Motor Speedway be expected to police the stands during the races? Surely the NAACP cannot be serious in this brewing dust-up about trying to limit freedom of expression.

Homestead-Miami Motor Speedway President Curtis Gray said spectators are not permitted to wave large flags of any sort in the stands because of safety concerns, and to prevent them from obstructing the view. He said Confederate flag items are not sold or officially displayed throughout the 65,000-seat raceway, but there's no official ban on spectators bringing miniature flags to the track, or wearing T-shirts emblazoned with the symbol. "... we don't regulate the lawful behavior of our fans or prohibit free speech and expression of our guests," Gray told FOXNews.com. "We can't tell people what to wear. Where do you start? Where does it end, as far as individual expression?"

Meanwhile, Rosemary Fuller, a member of the NAACP's Miami-Dade branch, said the civil rights group began drafting a letter last week to NASCAR Chairman and CEO Brian France to seek help in banning the controversial flag from the raceway. Citing a "troubling racial discord" in Homestead, Fuller told the South Florida Times that NAACP members are ready to protest and potentially boycott the season-ending race weekend if NASCAR officials fail to support the effort. NAACP members are also reportedly prepared to contact NASCAR's sponsors if the auto racing league objects. Source: Fox News

While I understand the hatred many African Americans feel towards the Confederacy, we cannot put limits on freedom of speech, without there being specific threats that would call for such drastic actions. There are way more pressing issues confronting Americans today, including residents of Miami-Dade area and Homestead, than to worry about someone waving a Confederate flag at a NASCAR race. Sorry, this is much ado about nothing.

NAACP, civil rights groups seek to ban Confederate flag in Homestead FL

This story is one reason why I wonder whether the NAACP's usefulness has come and gone. This civil rights organization always seems to be focusing on the wrong things. They are handling today's issues of race and diversity like they did half a century ago, proving that they seem unable to change with the times.

I'm sure I'll ruffle a lot of feathers with my comments here, but the NAACP has yet to prove their usefulness in the 21st century. Instead they serve more as an organization that exists to serve the black political machine in various chapters around the country.

Why on earth are they seeking to ban a flag?

The flag is a mere symbol of the hate, but I must ask is the removal of the flag going to make these ignorant groups hate minorities any less?

People need to learn not to be distracted by this type of silliness. Instead, I would personally like to see more focus on the issues that are destroying the community from within. These are the problems that are truly affecting the community. Let's focus on education, violence, and the apparent systematic destruction of the family.

Progress can be made if we turn our attention to the things that we can affect. These ignorant fools will be marching and waving their flags from now to kingdom come. And it's unrealistic to allow ourselves to be so distracted by what they are doing that we fail to focus on what we should be doing.

Let's face it. Crime and other internal issues within the black community have destroyed far more lives than a bunch of hicks waving Confederate flags!

More from the story:

"HOMESTEAD -- The NAACP and other civil rights groups have joined black Homestead residents in seeking to ban the Confederate flag and groups that support it from city-sanctioned festivities.

''That flag is flown to strike fear in people, and it's no different than a swastika being displayed in front of Jews,'' said Brad Brown, vice president of the Miami-Dade NAACP.

The issue came to a head on Nov. 11 during the 2008 Homestead/Florida City Chamber of Commerce parade, when organizers allowed Confederate army organizations to participate in Veterans Day ceremonies and display Confederate flags.

The Sons of Confederate Veterans (SCV) marched in the parade. Some rode atop vehicles emblazoned with Confederate states' banners; others walked with Confederate battle flags.

The demonstration outraged black residents.

City officials said they did not organize the parade. Parade organizers, who are linked to the local chamber of commerce, defended their right to display the flag." Source: Miami Herald