Proudly displaying the rebel battle flag, more than a dozen people participated in a rally Saturday for the Confederate flag that went from Fulton to Jefferson City.
Rally Organizer William Meyer recently formed the Missouri Confederate American Flag Supporters (MoCAFS) and said he was pleased with the turnout and may conduct the event on an annual basis.
The group started at the Fulton Walmart and finished at the Jefferson City Walmart on West Stadium Boulevard. Meyer chose the locations because the retail chain has banned any Confederate-related products.
"This is just a rally to save our history," he said.
Last week, when Meyer announced the rally, he said hate groups have misused the Confederate flag, and Saturday, he reiterated that message.
"Hate was not going to be allowed in this group today," he said. "In Fulton, we had a truck go by with people inside who shouted out "white power' and I told them keep rolling, we're not going to have that.
"I personally don't have anybody that fought (from my family in the Confederacy), but others here did and they want to preserve that history," Meyer added. "Aug. 1 is the unofficial Confederate flag day, and we have had discussions about holding a rally this time next year."
Observing the group were members of the Missouri Division of the Sons of Confederate Veterans. Commander Darrell Maples said it seemed the group had the right motives in mind.
"We are of the same ilk, that this is not about hate," he said. "We don't allow that, and we publicly denounce that. We have African American members in our group who are decedents of free and slave African Americans and they hold just as special a part of our organization as anybody else."
During the rally, MoCAFS members displayed Confederate flags from their vehicles, and some driving by in the parking lot took notice of the display.
"The young generation of African Americans are asleep to the knowledge or don't know about what the flag has stood for," said Tony Davis. "I'm almost 45 years old, and when I was growing up, I was getting called the "N word.' I know what that flag stands for to people of another race. The generation now doesn't know the real meaning of it. I thought my wife was joking when we came around the corner of the parking lot and she said there was a guy standing there with a Confederate flag. In broad daylight, are you serious? Maybe it is a good idea to get people together to know what the flag stands for."