White River Junction Man Says He Flies Confederate Flag to Fight Censorship (VT)

By Matt Hongoltz-Hetling
Valley News Staff Writer
Tuesday, March 8, 2016
(Published in print: Tuesday, March 8, 2016)

... “The flag is basically a symbol of oppression, intimidation, hate, slavery,” said Sam Smith, a black resident of Hartford who works at the nearby Hotel Coolidge. “These guys lost the war. They were on the wrong side of history. They wanted us as slaves” ...

Smith said he had appealed to various people in the community for help, but had not approached Rogers or the property owner ...

Rogers .. cited having black and gay friends. He said he and his wife have talked about teaching their children more about diversity, by planning a family trip to a black heritage museum. He said he supported the progressive Bernie Sanders in the presidential election (hence the placement of the Sanders sign), and expressed concern for the rights of minorities, including women ...

On Sunday afternoon, Smith visited Rogers’ home with Dennis and former Selectwoman Bethany Fleishman to express their concerns and ask Rogers to remove the flag ...

http://www.vnews.com/home/21386618-95/its-just-a-piece-of-cloth