The Morning Journal (Lorain, OH)
FLAG AT ISSUE
Fair-minded Coalition members discuss fight against Confederate flag
Members of the Lorain County Fair-minded Coalition invited the public to an annual discussion Aug. 15 on the fight against the Confederate flag being sold at the Lorain County Fair, Aug. 20-26.
Some Coalition members and public officials gathered in Ely Square in downtown Elyria and spoke about ways to take positive, vigorous action in their fight.
Jeanine Donaldson, coordinator of the Coalition and executive director of the Elyria and Lorain YWCA, said the coalition has worked to remove the “offensive symbol” since 2016.
Donaldson said the coalition and others like the Lorain County commissioners and Ohio State Fair Board, have requested the Lorain County Fair Board to ban the sale of the flag, but were not successful.
Donaldson questioned why
“We’re going to be here next year if it’s necessary, and every single year until our (county) Fair Board gets fairminded like our organization.”
— Anthony Giardini, chairman of Lorain County Democratic Party
the Ohio State Fair Board has agreed to stop selling the flags, but Lorain County has not.
Latoya Caver-Jackson, a Coalition member, has said the Confederate flag holds a hateful heritage, not of the Civil War when it was used, but of white supremacy.
Donaldson said this flag may show pride of southern states, but it stands as a hatred or segregation to many against African Americans.
She said those who spoke during the discussion indicated that anyone is allowed to use the First Amendment and express themselves freely through freedom of speech.
However, the sale of Confederate Flags at a “familyfriendly” event should not be tolerated.
Anthony Giardini, chairman of Lorain County Democratic Party, discussed the issue of the flag.
Giardini said the Lorain County Fair Board claims it has the right to prohibit vendors from selling merchandise it considers non friendly.
A flag that is a symbol of discrimination of white southern Americans honoring white supremacy is not family friendly, he said.
“We’re here this year,” Giardini said. “We’re going to be here next year if it’s necessary, and every single year until our (county) Fair Board gets fair-minded like our organization.”
Frank Whitfield, CEO of the Lorain County Urban League, Lorain Ward 6 Councilman Angel Arroyo Jr. and Elyria Ward 5 Councilman Marcus Madison encouraged those in attendance to continue to come together, not divided, but as one for a possible change.
David Ashenhurst, former Oberlin city councilman and member of Lorain County Mental Health board and secretary on the Oberlin NAACP, said he enjoys the fair like others do.
“We are not asking for any change in fair board policy,” Ashenhurst said. “What we’re asking for is the enforcement of the policy by their chairman. It’s simply a matter of exercising judgment and saying we want to be family friendly, and this is not.”
Elyria Ward 2 Councilwoman Brenda Davis said their initiative is for the future of the children.
Children shouldn’t have to grow up being afraid of others in a divided community, Davis said.
Donaldson shared their initiative has grown this year with yard signs and billboards throughout the county sharing their message.
The signs and billboards state the message: Indivisible with Liberty and Justice for All... Keep Your Pledge and Say “No” to the Confederate flag at the Lorain County Fair.
The billboards are located on state Route 58 near the fair site in Wellington, state Route 301 and state Route 57, she said.
The goal now is for someone with the power to come and help them discuss their issue with the fair board.
“We’re not done,” Davis said.
The coalition will have a peace concert at 6 p.m., Aug. 23, at First United Methodist Church, 127 Park Place in Wellington.
The concert is a celebration, not a protest, Donaldson said.
Ron Pickworth, president of the Lorain County Fair Board, said the sale of the Confederate flag is simply freedom of speech.
“We believe it’s their right to show it,” Pickworth said. “We’re not endorsing it. It’s a matter that it’s (OK) to sell it and that’s how we’ve stood all along.”
Donaldson said this flag may show pride of southern states, but it stands as a hatred or segregation to many against African Americans.