Group plans Confederate flag rally at state Capitol

Published 10:42 am Thursday, August 20, 2015

ST. PAUL — A Minnesota-based group plans to hold a rally in support of the Confederate battle flag at the Minnesota State Capitol.

A permit application for the Sept. 5 rally was approved Wednesday. The application from a group called “Minnesota 10,000 for Southern Heritage” estimates about 25 people will be there.

Rally organizer B.C. Johnson says the group wants to “annihilate hate” from association with the flag, which he says represents Southerners’ historic fight against a “tyrannical and hypocritical group.” He says he’s African-American and moved from South Carolina two years ago.

Email newsletter signup

Rashad Turner, head of Black Lives Matter St. Paul, tells the St. Paul Pioneer Press that his group will be at the rally in opposition.

The flag has gotten increased scrutiny following the June fatal shooting of nine black churchgoers at a church in South Carolina.