In a Facebook post made on Independence Day, Utah’s Black Lives Matter (BLM) Chapter wrote that the American flag is “a symbol of hatred” and those flying are “racist.”
“When we Black Americans see this flag, we know the person flying it is not safe to be around,” the post reads. “When we see this flag, we know the person flying it is a racist. When we see this flag, we know that the person flying it lives in a different America than we do. When we see this flag, we question your intelligence. We know to avoid you. It is a symbol of hatred.”
Lex Scott, the chapter’s founder, said she stands by her words about the American flag being a symbol of hate.
“If you see that every person that hates you is carrying an American flag how would you feel about that flag? If every message of hate that you receive comes from a person flying that flag, how would you feel when you see that flag,” Scott said in a written statement further explaining her July 4 Facebook post. “I feel fear. That is not up for debate. I feel like the person flying it is racist because every racist that I have come in contact with is either wearing that flag or flying that flag. I feel as if I should avoid that person because they may be dangerous.”
“I told the world that the American flag is a hate symbol. And the world erupted in rage, but when Neo N@zis fly that flag you say nothing, you do nothing,” Scott continued. “If people truly believe that it is a symbol of love, independence, dignity, patriotism. They would defend it, not only when it is critiqued by me, but when it is used for hate. But they don’t and they won’t.”
The national BLM movement was founded on the premise that black people in America are systemically oppressed and that the system of capitalism does not value all lives.
“Black Lives Matter is an ideological and political intervention in a world where Black lives are systematically and intentionally targeted for demise. It is an affirmation of Black folks’ humanity, our contributions to this society, and our resilience in the face of deadly oppression,” states the BLM “Herstory” webpage.
BY MASOOMA HAQ
