Saratoga Springs

A motorcyclist seen flying a Confederate flag on the back of his bike in Saratoga Springs' Memorial Day parade has sparked outrage and prompted city officials to look into the matter.

"This man was blatant about it. It's like he didn't care," city resident Joy King said. "He rode that motorcycle with that flag flying high."

The flag has a long, controversial history, being seen by many people as a symbol of hate and racism, and in recent years, debate about removing the flag from government buildings bubbled to the surface.

King, who is black, saw the flag during the parade on May 26 and was shocked. She contacted local officials to find out how someone would be allowed to fly it in a city Memorial Day parade.

"This was not something that the city was aware of prior to or during the parade and is certainly not something that the city supports," Mayor Joanne Yepsen said. "While we respect and value everyone's freedom of speech, we do not want to see symbols of hatred, prejudice and bigotry on display at city events."

Yepsen said the man may have been from Georgia, but she was unaware of how he got into the parade. The city will be investigating, and Yepsen will meet with residents to discuss the issue.

The motorcyclist flew two flags. The Confederate one was about 4 feet long. Beneath was a much smaller Stars and Stripes.

Linda LeTendre, a social justice activist and city resident for 14 years, said King contacted her the day after the parade. LeTendre didn't see the flag herself, but was "appalled" when she heard the news.

"I actually did cry when I heard that this happened in my community," LeTendre said. "I think (parade organizers) need to screen their people a little bit better, and the politicians who were marching in the parade, I think they need to denounce this immediately."

The parade was organized by a committee formed by the city, but headed by veterans, including the local American Legion Adirondack Post 70.

Jim Coyne of the American Legion couldn't be reached for comment.

King has lived in Saratoga all her life and said she had never experienced the racial tension she says she now sees. She said this flag isn't just about blacks, but also those who are Jewish or Catholic, Hispanic or Asian or same-sex married couples.

"Something is stirring the pot, but I don't know what it is," King said.

Saratoga Springs Public Safety Commissioner Chris Mathiesen remarked on the oddity of displaying a Confederate flag when the parade ended at the Civil War memorial in Greenridge Cemetery.

"Obviously, I'm very much opposed to exposure of a Confederate flag in a Memorial Day parade for a variety of reasons," he said.

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