Confederate handouts are sticking point for many at State Fair

Officials at the North Carolina State Fair said Saturday that they have received a number of complaints about a group handing out Confederate stickers, but the group said it has always felt welcome at the event.

Posted 10:11 p.m. Oct 21, 2017 — Updated 1:55 p.m. Jul 13, 2018

RALEIGH, N.C. — Officials at the North Carolina State Fair said Saturday that they have received a number of complaints about a group handing out Confederate stickers, but the group said it has always felt welcome at the event.

Lamar Pender will tell anybody about his great-great-great grandfather, who died wearing a Confederate uniform.

“Those men that fought for the Confederate States were honorable men. They were our ancestors, they were not racists,” Pender said.

Pender on Saturday was working the fair booth for the North Carolina Sons of Confederate Veterans, handing out stickers that depict the Confederate flag and read “I support Confederate heritage.”

"Some racist organizations use that flag, but we don't like that association any better than a lot of other people do," Pender said.

Pender said the group has had a booth at the State Fair for at least 30 years, but things have been different this year in the wake of deadly violence in Charlottesville, Va., in August and another national movement to remove Confederate monuments.

“I think it may have increased interest somewhat, to be honest with you, because a lot of people make mention of it. They’re positive about it,” Pender said. "They take the same position that we do- it's part of our heritage, part of our history and they don't want them taken down."

The stickers have been a sticking point for some fairgoers, however.

“The fair is a place for family fun, not fear and hate. Now is not the time in America to be stirring this kind of thing up at a family festival,” said fairgoer April Schweitzer in an email to WRAL News.

The Confederate flag stickers are just one of several politically charged displays at the fair. A booth promoting peace is sandwiched between an exhibit on President Donald Trump and a booth handing out anti-abortion stickers.

“Some things are very sensitive right now and we’re living in a critical time and we really need to be careful about what we do,” said fairgoer Carolyn Banks. "I feel like if there was something I was doing that offended people, I would be a little more careful about doing it."

Fair officials said all controversial booths have a right to be there.

“Our Constitution gives us freedom of speech,” fairgoer Rhoda Deam said.

State Fair spokesman Brian Long said he understands the concerns about the Sons of Confederate Veterans booth, given recent events, and said officials will study the issue ahead of next year’s fair.

Suggest A Correction