Painting over of flag on Obion Co. sign draws controversy
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TROY, Tenn. — A sign to commemorate victory for a community is drawing controversy in Obion County. “We are the Rebels and that is our flag. It is special to us,” Miller Coleman said. The controversy is over someone whom students and alumni say acted without getting proper clearance. “For someone to come and paint over the sign, that is vandalism to us and the community,” Melissa Taylor said. Students say someone associated with the school system painted over the Confederate flag on the sign. “If I would have come up and paint something on the sign like that, I would have been charged, and I think that person should be charged too,” Taylor said. Taylor said the sign was donated to the community to honor the Obion County Rebels’ 1986 State basketball championship. When word spread that the sign had been altered, hundreds gathered in protest. “I think it is wrong that they took the flag down on the sign over there,” Stevie Flowers said. “It’s part of our heritage and it’s been a part of our heritage for years, so why take it down?” “It’s not a symbol of racism. It’s a symbol of heritage and pride to us,” Gage King said. That is why student Miller Coleman said he took a trip to Walmart and fixed things himself. “I felt like it was my civic duty to come up here and paint over it and paint a new flag,” Coleman said. Petitions are now circulating to prevent the sign from being painted over again. “This family and this community just want it fixed back the way it should be done,” Taylor said.
