NAACP demands answers after race car displays Confederate flag at Nashville fairgrounds
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Photo: Courtesy of Restore Our Fairgrounds
The Nashville branch of the NAACP demanded accountability after the Confederate flag was displayed on a car during a race at the Nashville fairgrounds earlier this week.
Why it matters: The NAACP and a chorus of city officials, including Councilmember Quin Evans Segall, expressed dismay that the car was allowed to race, while also questioning the response of city officials.
Driving the news: The flag was displayed on a car owned by Joseph West at a race last Friday.
- The Fair Board hires contractor Track Enterprises, led by Bob Sargent, to operate the racetrack.
- In a statement, Sargent's group said officials are "aware of the situation and working directly with the driver and race team" to address the matter. The speedway doesn't condone or permit display of the Confederate flag, according to the statement.
- Fairgrounds executive director Laura Womack told the Tennessean the fairgrounds can't regulate signage on race cars, but that Track Enterprises can.
The latest: West tells Axios this was the first time the car was driven at the fairgrounds this season. He says he bought the car with the flag on it and he plans to replace it with an American flag.
- "Bob called us and let us know it's not allowed, and we're going to take it off," he says.
- West says he has minorities in his family. "For us, it's by far not a racial or political slur in our family."
Yes, but: The NAACP demanded answers about why the car was allowed to race and what actions will be taken with the track operator.
- "The presence of this symbol at the Nashville Fairgrounds raises serious questions about oversight, accountability and whether Black residents and other community members can expect a welcoming and inclusive environment at a public facility," NAACP Nashville branch president Timothy Hughes said in this letter to Womack.
- In a letter to Womack, Evans Segall called the fair board's response so far "underwhelming," and asked the department to address the questions raised by the NAACP letter.
The big picture: The fallout of the Confederate flag incident comes at a time when racing supporters are attempting to save the racetrack.
- A ballot measure is set to appear before voters next year to ban auto racing and replace it with workforce or affordable housing at the fairgrounds.
What they're saying: "There's a longstanding policy that bans the flag at the fairgrounds, and this should not have happened," racetrack supporter Shane Smiley tells Axios.
- "This is not representative of the overall culture of those who utilize the fairgrounds speedway," he adds.