Charleroi: Confederate flag at concert draws NAACP objection

By TAYLOR BROWN

tbrown@yourmvi.com

The president of the Mon Valley NAACP addressed Charleroi Borough Council on Tuesday, representing community members who were upset that a Confederate flag was displayed by a band during a virtual Community Days performance last month.

David Hunter said he was asked by the organization’s executive committee to attend the meeting to discuss separate issues with council brought forward by concerned members of the community.

The first problem, Hunter said, stems from the concert in which a member of the band Six Gun Sally “prominently” displayed the Confederate flag while on stage.

“We were sent screen shots, including some with officials standing in front of the band,” Hunter said. “The flag is very noticeable. It is very prominent.

“Residents of the community were concerned that, in a diverse community like Charleroi, it sends a very bad message. That flag is a symbol of the Confederacy, slavery and discrimination.”

Tens of thousands of viewers tuned in to the performance, hosted in partnership with the borough and the Mon Valley Academy for the Arts.

A video of the performance was posted to three social media pages by the band, Charleroi Borough and the MVAA. It was take down by all three organizations when the problem was brought to light.

Still, Hunter said council has not addressed the issue.

“We have not seen this addressed publicly by borough council,” he said.

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