Flag still raises division at LSU

For the third time within two weeks, students at Louisiana State University held a rally to voice racial concerns, including the display of purple and gold Confederate flags on campus.

On Oct. 29, before LSU's game with the University of North Texas, students assembled at the campus' African-American Cultural Center to express their dissatisfaction of current campus policies affecting LSU's black student population.

Al Jones, a Tigers' freshman defensive end, marched with demonstrators and said another purpose of the Unity Rally was to encourage more aggressive minority recruitment at the school.

"A lot of (minority) New Orleans high school students will need help getting into college because of the hurricane," said Jones, a native of New Orleans.

Jones said the rally was about not only the Confederate flag, but also the lack of appropriate funding for multicultural programs on campus.

"They are under-funded and they can't do a lot of programs that they want to accomplish," he said.

During the rally, LSU Chancellor Sean O'Keefe gave a statement supporting the students. Afterwards, students marched from the cultural center to Tiger Stadium, sparking reactions from LSU tailgaters and fans of all races.

"I love the fact that everyone is practicing their freedoms," said Alan Nicholson, a white sociology major at LSU. "The thing about this protest that speaks to me is that freedom is a very complicated thing. We really have to decide if we should ban this flag or just discourage the use of it.

"While these people are practicing their freedom of speech by protesting the flag, so are the people that are putting the flag up," Nicholson said. "Although it might offend people, it's not hurting anybody."

As the marchers paraded through the crowds, several black LSU band members gave gestures of support.

"It's a positive thing for the LSU community and us as blacks also," said T.C. Mitchell, a black LSU band member from Zachary. "We want to get the same respect as anyone else out here. I appreciate what they are doing."

The students chanted loudly their mantra, "U- Nite L-S-U," while marching. Many white spectators applauded and gave them pats on the back as they marched.

"I support their point one hundred percent, I could not be more behind them," said Micheal Huye, a white LSU tailgater. "I don't think (the flag) has absolutely any place at LSU. If I were Jewish, I wouldn't want a purple and gold Nazi flag and if I'm black, I don't want a purple and gold rebel flag out here."

Despite the show of support by the crowd, there were many tailgaters who were angered by the student marchers.

"It's not a racist flag," said Ralph Dickerson, a white LSU tailgater who displayed a variety of Confederate flags. "Why do y'all always have to be victims? Forget about what happened 150 years ago and everybody just get along. There's not nothing racist about that at all."

Fredrick Meyers of Baton Rouge was tailgating as the demonstrators passed him. Myers, who is black, said the flag was not really important to him.

"I never really paid attention to it," Myers said. "It never really was a big concern in my life. It's just another flag to me."

The march culminated in front of Tiger Stadium and students chanted, "What do we want? Unity," from behind barricades as LSU's football team entered the stadium.

Moshe Cohen, a white LSU math major from New York, participated in the march and vocalized his support for the Unity Rally by chanting alongside the black marchers.

"Inadvertent discrimination affects everyone," Cohen said. "I understand every statement you make affects people in ways you might not understand. I understand some people may take offense, and just seeing something that makes other people angry makes me angry."

Jana Radmann, a white LSU alumna from Germany, agreed with Bohn.

"If it's really hurting to other people, don't do it," Radmann said. "You can show your pride in other ways."

As the march ended, both tailgaters and demonstrators dispersed and students still talked about displaying of the flag.

"I'm embarrassed (the flag) is flown on campus where I attend school," said David Augustine, a junior marketing major from New Orleans who is black. "The flag being flown in purple and gold is an obscenity and hate symbol."