The flag is attached to Bobby Tillett's pickup truck, which he drives to work every day, WJXT reported. Because his employer has banned the flag from his parking lot, Tillett is forced to park far from his job.
Posted on 05/02/2008 8:56:18 AM PDT by stainlessbanner
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- A Central Florida man's Confederate flag prompted a free-speech battle with his employer, who doesn't want it displayed on company property.
The flag is attached to Bobby Tillett's pickup truck, which he drives to work every day, WJXT reported. Because his employer has banned the flag from his parking lot, Tillett is forced to park far from his job.
"If I take it down, that means you know the politically correct people would have won, and that's wrong," Bobby Tillett said. "If you believe in something that strong (you) should have no problem whatsoever to fly it."
Tillett said the flag flap began when he showed up for work at BJ's Wholesale off Pritchard Road.
"Management confronts me and tells me, politely, if I would take my flag off my truck," Tillett said. "I said, 'No, I will not.'"
Tillett said his managers told him if he did not remove the flag, he couldn't park in the employee lot.
"I'm a firm believer it's not about winning or losing, it's about right and wrong," Tillett told WJXT's Dan Leveton.
So Tillett decided to park on public property about a half-mile away and walk to work.
He says it takes him about 10 minutes to walk to the job, but it's worth it.
"It's about heritage; it's about pride," Tillett said. "I don't look at it much different than the American flag. There's been a lot of blood spilled over that flag, too, and I love that flag, and I'll fly it 'till the day I die."
No one at BJ's would comment about the controversy, but they did issue a statement saying it is about the rights of other employees:
"Like all employers, we have guidelines of appropriate personal behavior and expression at work. While the policy does not identify any specific type of expression, it generally prohibits expression that is rude, abusive, hostile or intimidating. Under these guidelines, we asked this team member to not display the confederate flag in our parking lot. We are confident that we have struck the right balance for all of our team members and their work environment."
Tillett said none of his co-workers has told him they dislike the flag. He said most people support him and he plans to keep on flying his Confederate flag, even if it costs him the job.
"I'm standing by my guns ... or my flag," Tillett said.
The flag is attached to Bobby Tillett's pickup truck, which he drives to work every day, WJXT reported. Because his employer has banned the flag from his parking lot, Tillett is forced to park far from his job.
I don’t see how this is a “free speech” issue. Private companies have always been free to restrict activities on their private property.
I wonder if this company even realizes the can of worms it’s opened up.
Now every flag, bumper sticker, antenna topper, etc will be the subject of possible offense by someone.
I guess they have nothing better to do.
yikes...you read the Constitution ? that makes you a radical right wing conspirator.
As a resident of Georgia, I have had a lot of time to think about this, and it makes me sad.
I’m sad for those who remember the ugly stain of racism that this flag represents, but I’m also sad for those who see it as a symbol of heritage and are angry that no one else can understand their specific cultural view of the flag.
The problem is that no one stood up for it during the years that it was tarnished by public demonstrations of racist, ignorant, propaganda. If a large group had stood up in the 50s, 60s, 70s,... and said, “This is not a racist symbol”, then I would say that this whole controversy is unfair. The sad truth is that not many people fought for its sanctity, while klansmen and skinheads made it their own.
It could have been a symbol of state’s rights and southern culture, but instead it has unfortunately turned into a hateful symbol of intolerance.
If you’re worried about how your company will be perceived, you probably shouldn’t name it “BJ’s, Wholesale”.
bump
Post of the Day!
NAACP bumper stickers offend me.
Exactly.
Let it furl on the way from the chicken farm to the job then pack it up go to work take BJ’S $$$ get back in the truck un pack ole glory, furl it and head home.. Sorry Bobbie T but you may be shopping for a new job shortly.
My first thought...
LOL...
Then dont allow them at the company you own
I like his flag, too!
10 to 1 it has multiple UF Gators stickers too.
Guy sounds bitter
Well, I just called BJ’s and cancelled my membership. I demanded a refund, too.
I guess this is just like back yard football... losers walk.
Bingo. As a resident of Georgia, I came to the same conclusion. It's not simply a historical artifact or celebration of ancestry anymore.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.