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Confederate flag part of display in Florida library despite NAACP concerns
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A controversial display that includes a Confederate battle flag is now up in a Florida library despite concerns from the NAACP.
The display at the Brevard County Library comes just days after the civil rights organization complained the display would be offensive.
Mitch Morgan, who helped put together the display, said he his is a history buff, not a member of a hate group. He said the story of the Civil War can't be told without the Confederate battle flag because it symbolizes the bravery of the men who died in battle.
Chinon Council disagrees.
"The flag is a bit much," Council said.
For Morgan, the flag symbolizes bravery.
"The reason we give prominence to that flag is we had so many people who died under it, including my ancestors. I had great- and triple-great-grandpas who died on the battlefield in Florida, and that is why it means so much to me," Morgan said.
Morgan is a member of the Confederate Sons Association. He said the flag has been part of their display during Confederate History Month at the library for the last 10 years.
"I'm completely blown away because we have never had anything but positive comments from it," Morgan said.
Despite NAACP complaints to the Brevard County Commission, commissioners voted against changing the library's rules for displays, citing concerns about First Amendment rights.
"We are not a hate group. We are historians," Morgan said. "We are history buffs, and we have a right to honor our ancestors."
Morgan said he made a few changes to the display by adding images of other national flags.
He said he plans to meet with members of the NAACP and let them know that his group means no harm and has no evil intent.
Library officials said they have created their own display highlighting the union, to put the Civil War into context.
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