Approximately fifty protesters gathered in Tampa, Florida this past Friday to denounce what the American flag supposedly represents.
“The American flag holds as much hatred, as much oppression, as much blood as the Confederate flag,” said [Crystal] Wilson, a student at the University of South Florida.
Wilson proceeded to set a small (American) flag aflame, and quickly was joined by other protesters who were holding their own flags.
Protesters gathered Friday evening at Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park to stand in solidarity with the Charleston, S.C., victims and to denounce monuments they say commemorate white supremacy.
“Who’s ready to take the flag down on I-4?” Alekos Zambrano shouted into a bullhorn. The 24-year-old activist and former journalist represented Raíces en Tampa, an organization that focuses on empowering Latino immigrants. “Who’s ready to change the name of the Robert E. Lee school?” he continued. “Who’s ready to burn some symbols of hate?”
The circle of activists cheered, then broke into a chorus of “Black lives matter! Black lives matter!” Several speakers passed the bullhorn to share their thoughts on racism, oppression and Charleston. They also burned Confederate flags.
For the activists gathered Friday night, the message was clear: Eradicate all symbols of oppression, and be forthright about each act of violence.
Wilson, a USF student who is black, said she wished to be freed from symbols of oppression because she’s tired of being scared, tired of watching people being frisked in Sulphur Springs.
“Are we really free?” she asked the crowd.
“No!” they shouted.
Recall that the US Supreme Court, upon whose grounds “oppressive” Old Glory flies, has ruled that flag burning is a protected form of expression under the First Amendment.
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