The conversation surrounding the Confederate flag came to the Grove when a group began handing out #finsup #flagsdown stickers Saturday.
Nearly a dozen students, alumni and faculty led by Mary Alex Thigpen wore and handed out the stickers in favor of removing the Confederate symbol.
Many tents in the Grove have for some time now sported Confederate flags or emblems, like that of Forrest Daws, a Wayne County native in the Grove Saturday.
“Actually, I’m offended that people look at that and automatically assume I’m racist because they have no earthly idea why I fly that flag,” Daws said. “While I do understand the sensitivity and people who are offended by it, even though I do feel like it’s misinterpretation, I feel like we would be better off discussing, educating and coming to the realization that that flag represents things other than what it’s been misinterpreted for.”
Daws said he honored the memory of his three family members who fought in the Civil War when he hung the flag, and it would be going against tradition to take it down.
Thigpen, a 2012 graduate, said she decided to start the campaign after reading linebacker C. J. Johnson’s interview with ESPN discussing the use of Confederate emblems in the Grove.
Students and fans in the Grove on the campus of the University of Mississippi in Oxford. (Photo by: Phillip Waller)
Thigpen said she asked the tent next to hers in the Grove to remove their Confederate flag, which they politely refused to do. After this experience, she said she spoke to her friends and colleagues about handing out stickers in support of the removal of the flag.
“I feel like there are a lot of people that feel the same way that we do,” Thigpen said. “We’ve been focused on being respectful, and all these conversations we have are humble.”
Thigpen said removal of the Confederate battle flag through respectful and civil conversation was her only goal.
Tyshun Hargrove, an alumnus of 2007 and 2008, said he heard about the initiative when he came to Oxford for the homecoming game and decided to join.
“If we want our school to bring in the best students that we can and show that type of camaraderie, unity across the board, then why not have something that unifies everyone?” Hargrove said. “In the grand scheme, athletics is a big push – especially in the SEC and especially here. Fans are coming in to support these athletes, and in supporting the athletes, they’re also supporting the students and the school.”
Hargrove said if the fans came to support the players, they should support their beliefs as well. Hargrove said this is one of his few visits to campus after graduating, and he felt there was more tension now than in his time in Oxford.
“To see it go from what I thought was a very good place that was progressing to taking a few steps back was displeasing,” Hargrove said. “When things like that happen, it’s an education opportunity.”
Donald Cole, assistant provost and assistant to the chancellor concerning minority affairs, came to visit with the people who volunteered to hand out stickers.
“I wanted to come and meet some of the people who are associated with it,” Cole said. “The group wanted to do things the right way: nothing confrontational, just educational.”
Though he could see a reduction in the display of Confederate emblems since his time here, Cole said he felt their removal would encourage a safer, more welcoming environment for all students.
Daws said he believes the negative connotation of the Confederate flag is derived from a misinterpretation of it.
“I believe that a large part of the problem derives from a lack of education on it,” Daws said. “I definitely agree that there are some things that need to change, and I agree that racism does happen. I’m not denying that whatsoever. I’m saying that the meaning of that flag is not a racist meaning to those who know what it stands for. It’s just as frustrating for us to feel like our history and heritage is under attack, just like the other side feels to us.”
Chukwuebuka Okoye, president of the University’s NAACP chapter, also participated in handing out stickers Saturday. Okoye said the purpose of the stickers was to increase conversation surrounding the issue.
“We just want to talk about it. We don’t want to push our views on anyone,” Okoye said. “Even if you don’t take it down, at least you thought about it.”
