I never knew it was considereed a southern “thing” until I was maybe in my 20s. The flags were everywhere when I was growing up. They were along the roads in the hills of western NY state. We considered them a symbol of independence and objection to tyranny.
Saw a big FU driving into VA last week. Crossed the line on a major road but one people going North to South would not be on. Huge Stars and Bars, what we called a Holliday Flag) flying on private land adjoining the highway. Looks like Governor Coonman’s influence does not encompass the westerns side of VA.
As a kid growing up in Texas we called it the “Rebel Flag”, and that’s exactly how we Viewed it as a protest flag.
During the 80’s, trucks driving in New York City regularly had Confederate flags on the truck grills. Didn’t bother anyone...