Confederate Flag 'A Symbol Of Freedom,' Tennessee Lawmaker Claims

JONESBOROUGH, TN — A Republican Tennessee state legislator claims that the Confederate flag is a "symbol of freedom" and equates Black Lives Matter with the Ku Klux Klan and neo-Nazis.

State Rep. Micah Van Huss, a Republican from Washington County in upper northeast Tennessee, used his personal Facebook page — where he said he typically refrains from political statements — to make his position clear on the furor surrounding Confederate memorials and symbols in the wake of a deadly white nationalist rally in Charlottesville, Virginia, that was ostensibly an effort to preserve a statue of Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee. (For more updates on this story and free news alerts for your neighborhood, sign up for your local Tennessee Patch morning newsletter.)

"Black Lives Matter, the KKK, and Neo-Nazi’s (sic) are racist hate groups and I condemn them," he began.

Black Lives Matter began as an effort to bring attention to and end police violence against African-Americans. The Ku Klux Klan began as an effort to reassert white supremacy during Reconstruction through violence against freedmen and Republicans.

"Some of those groups have taken a banner that is dear to my heart and made it one of their symbols," he continued, presumably not referring to Black Lives Matter. "To me, Robert E. Lee’s battle flag is a symbol of freedom. Stonewall Jackson was my fathers (sic) hero."

"I’ve supported Ted Cruz for many years. After last nights (sic) truth session, I now support President Trump," Van Huss concluded.

Van Huss could not be reached for clarification on why, exactly, the flag of the Confederacy is a "symbol of freedom."

Interestingly, like most of East Tennessee, the county Van Huss represents in the General Assembly was essentially a Union exclave during the Civil War. It voted to remain in the Union during by a nearly 20 point margin when Tennessee voted to secede, supplied three regiments of soldiers to the United States Army and was an important waypoint on the Underground Railroad.

In a statement emailed to the Knoxville News Sentinel, Tennessee Republican Party Executive Director Michael Sullivan did not directly denounce or refute Van Huss' claim, but emphasized that "violence, racism and bigotry" are antithetical to American values.

"Freedom of speech and assembly is important constitutional right that all Americans should have," Sullivan wrote. "However, violence, racism and bigotry, whether it be on the ball fields of Alexandria, the streets of Charlottesville, or anywhere else in America, has no place in our democracy or political discourse."

Van Huss has been no stranger to controversy in his three terms in the Tennessee House of Representatives. He has sponsored legislation aimed at ending "Islamic indoctrination" in public schools and another naming a .50-caliber sniper rifle made by a company owned by a prominent Republican donor the state rifle. He also supported an effort to reduce welfare benefits for families with children who were failing in school.

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Image via State of Tennessee