The Confederate flag has not been flown at the Arizona statehouse or other government offices in recent years, although the territory that is today Arizona was part of the Confederate States of America during the Civil War.
However, the Confederate flag remains of symbolic importance to a number of Arizonians, many of whom have stepped forward to fly the flag as its use became controversial since a South Carolina shooting in a black church.
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One man
told KVOA in Tucson that he was flying the flag in his front yard to stand up for freedom of speech and for the historical significance of the flag.
"It's part of our country and a lot of heritage," the man, identified only as Carl, said. "I am all for our country.”
One female neighbor called it a symbol of hate. "I've lived around the corner from you, and I want to tell you that, that makes me sick and I am just disgusted," she said, according to KVOA.
In early July, protesters carrying the Confederate flag turned out in a WalMart parking lot, where they were protesting the store's decision to remove Confederate flag merchandise
from shelves, the Arizona Republic reported. Others turned out to support the decision, and the newspaper described the standoff as "tense."
"The Confederate flag is not a racist flag; it's a part of our history," Nohl Rosen, who called himself a "patriot" of Phoenix, told the Republic. "You can't erase history. They're trying to erase history and re-create it to an image they want."
Other issues have also come up. In Tucson, an annual birthday celebration for the city includes a parade where all flags that have flown over the city are displayed, including the Confederate flag. This year, the city council discussed whether it was appropriate to include the
controversial flag, the Arizona Daily Star reported. In the end, the council decided to leave it alone because of the flag's historical significance.
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