Christian Flag Focus Of Rally

Special Report - October 27, 2010
The battle to defend a city’s right to officially fly a Christian flag along with the American flag, the State flag, and several military flags at a local Veteran’s Memorial continues in King, North Carolina. Over 5,000 citizens marched in King this past Saturday to show their support for the Christian flag, which was removed from the Veteran’s Memorial at Central Park in September, after the city council received threats from the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and Americans United for the Separation of Church and State. Some marchers wore shirts that said, “Put Our Flag Back!” and many waved American and Christian flags during the 30-minute march through King that ended in a rally at the Central Park amphitheater. Speakers at the October 23 rally included Reverend Kevin Broyhill, pastor of Calvary Baptist Church, who organized the event, and Ron Baity of Return America, as well as attorney David Gibbs III of the Christian Law Association.

The controversy over the Christian flag began in September when the King city council voted 3 to 1 to remove the flag from the park. Both Americans United and the ACLU of NC sent letters to city officials in August, claiming that the Christian flag violates the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, and asking them to remove the flag. According to Americans United, a local veteran contacted them to complain about the flag. Citizens in King have responded with a groundswell of support for the Christian flag, including flying the flag at local businesses. Additionally, more than 500 citizens attended a public meeting earlier this month, urging the city council to return the flag to the memorial. A local church donated a replica Christian flag that private citizens have placed in front of the Veteran’s memorial. Local veterans have been guarding the replica flag from vandals in 24-hour shifts at the park since September.

The King city council may discuss the Christian flag controversy at its November 1 meeting. The council is reportedly considering a number of options, including selling the property to a private group to avoid a legal challenge.

Related resources:
King Christian Flag At Issue - October 8, 2010

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