The Controversy Over the Confederate Flag Swirls at Local Music Festival (OH)

[struggle4progress]

Last edited Wed Jul 15, 2015, 10:46 PM - Edit history (1)

Posted: Jul 15, 2015 6:14 PM EDT
Updated: Jul 15, 2015 9:48 PM EDT
By Jake Kauffman

... the Confederate Battle Flag is still a huge part of the country music scene this week in Belmont County.

"It's here to stay, that's a big thing this year and for you to find one of those....." said Toni Shelton of Reedsville, West Virginia. "Like we've had people come up to us asking if we're selling our flag. I don't even know why they're making a big issue about it, it's not coming down, no body's going to put it down."

"They're selling like wildfire, we don't have enough to keep in stock, it's just ridiculous," said Tim Thomas of Jamboree Time Products of Youngstown, Ohio. "A lot of people are into the Rebel Flag because of all the controversy about that and they're trying to rebel against it so we're gonna keep everything we can keep on the shelves."

7 News has reached out to LiveNation who is putting on the concert as to whether or not they would allow Confederate Flags inside the venue. They have not responded.

http://www.wtrf.com/story/29558039/confederate-flag-continues-to-fly-at-local-music-festival

[HassleCat]

1. Music event?

Not a jazz and blues festival, I'm guessing.

[Tanuki]

2. There's no Belmont County in WV

That's in Ohio.

[struggle4progress]

3. Thanks. I'll correct

[doc03]

4. I live in Belmont County Ohio, the rebel flag has always been a part of

the Jamboree in the Hills. Every year the rednecks drive around with giant rebel flags on their trucks. I figured it would be
more popular this year, I should have bought up every one I could find and made a few bucks from those idiots.

[jen63]

5. Yeah, we're just fab aren't we?

I saw on WTOV that a store in Morristown has gone through 500 if them. I'm in Guernsey. Smack dab in the middle of the underground railroad and the hicks are arguing about that ignorant flag up here.

[doc03]

7. Have you ever visited the Underground Railroad Museum in Flushing?

[jen63]

9. I don't think so, but it sounds

really interesting. Guess I need to check it out. There's just all kinds of stuff to do and see around here. Off the beaten path stuff that isn't publicized!

[doc03]

11. The guy that runs the museum is John Maddox but he only opens by appointment.

I don't suppose he would open up for just one or two people so I never have been there either.

[jen63]

12. Sounds really interesting.

My grandparents lived in a really old Italianate brick house and there were always rumors in our family that it had been part of the railroad. It was built by a Yankee ship's captain I think. We could never pin down any actual proof though.

[Adenoid_Hynkel]

6. When I worked for a local paper in Ohio, I had to cover an annual motorcycle event

Where vendors were selling Confederate gear left and right, including shirts depicting klansmen with the caption "The original boyz in the hood."

Naturally, I worked this into my story.

But the rightwing editor cut it after I left for the day. "If people see that, they won't want to go to the event!" he told me the next day.

I didn't last much longer at that paper, needless to say.

Even though Ohio was solidly union and the landing of the Underground Railroad, the racist, neo-Confederate shit has taken hold. And seeing as how there's no southern "heritage" to celebrate, I'll leave it up to you to do the math.

[doc03]

8. A large percentage of the Jamboree in the Hills fans are from

southern states but yes there are nit wits in Ohio that think they are rebels too. I drove by the gates today, there are more rebel flags then ever this year. One of my neighbors took the US flag in his yard down last week and hoisted the real Confederate States flag in its place.

[jen63]

10. Chilllicothe? n/t