USVI marina kicks out crew & vessel carrying Confederate Flag
CHARLOTTE AMALIE, St Thomas, USVI- Yacht Haven Grande on Wednesday, June 14, 14, 2017 issued a statement regarding the incident that occurred at Brewers Bay, St Thomas, US Virgin Islands (USVI) on Sunday, June 11, 2017 where a vessel with three Caucasian men was seen prominently displaying a Confederate flag, swiftly igniting the ire of the USVI community, including Acting Governor Osbert E. Potter.
The men, according to Yacht Haven, were guests of its marina, with the company being made aware of the Sunday incident on Monday. “Yacht Haven Grande were made aware of the inappropriate actions/behaviour of some marina guests, Monday afternoon the 12th of June, 2017. YHG took the immediate decision to remove the offending crew and vessel from the marina, as such the vessel departed YHG that same evening,” reads the statement.
It adds, “As a multi‐cultural, international company, IGY Marinas, and therefore YHG, take this form of inappropriate behavior very seriously. We, as part of the St Thomas community, feel this was the correct and appropriate action.”
Mr Potter on Tuesday, 13, 2017 moved to denounce the occurrence, which took place during the “What’s Going on St Thomas” event which was a fundraiser for My Brother’s Workshop, according to Mr Potter’s office.
The attendees at the event were enraged and expressed concerns and offense towards the flying of the Confederate flag in the territory, according to Mr Potter, who is currently serving as governor while Governor Kenneth E. Mapp is away.
Confederate flag ‘not welcomed’ in USVI
“The Confederate flag is not welcomed, not accepted, nor tolerated in the Virgin Islands under any circumstances,” Mr Potter said. “The Confederate flag represents divisiveness, bigotry, slavery, and oppression. This is totally out of line with what we as Virgin Islands residents embrace, which is unity and acceptance of all people, regardless of race, color, religion or creed. The flying of the flag is totally offensive to Virgin Islanders, and I will not tolerate this blatant display of hatred to our people.”
Mr Potter ordered the perpetrators of what he referred to as an offense, to cease and desist immediately. He stated that the flying of the Confederate flag is not welcomed neither on the waters nor on land in the USVI.
The Sunday incident received immediate and united backlash from Virgin Islanders, with multiple people capturing the unusual sight and sharing it on social media. The image was shared on The Consortium’s Facebook platform as well, with residents calling for the publication to dig further into the matter.
In 1860-61, eleven southern states seceded from the United States to protect the institution of slavery, forming the Confederate States of America and precipitating the Civil War. During the war, the Confederacy and its military forces used a variety of flags, but the flag that became most associated with the Confederacy was the so-called “battle flag.”
Organisations such as the Sons of Confederate Veterans adopted the flag as a symbol of Southern heritage but the flag also served as a potent symbol of slavery and white supremacy, which has caused it to be very popular among white supremacists in the 20th and 21st centuries. This popularity extends to white supremacists beyond the borders of the United States.
Today, the use of the Confederate flag is often controversial. While a number of non-extremists still use the flag as a symbol of Southern heritage or pride, there is growing recognition, especially outside the South, that the symbol is offensive to many Americans.
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36 Responses to “USVI marina kicks out crew & vessel carrying Confederate Flag”
May you teach your kids the power of MELANIN Blacker the berry more POWERFUL THE JUICE.
In the name of the MOST HIGH be blessed. I will surely like to meet you.
So let's not react to the little insignificant things and be quiet as the dead on the real issues. The things that affect us are what we should be concerned about and not someone's beliefs. They came to the VI which is full of black people and they will spend $$ here and it will benefit us so that is showing support of us. Let them wave their flag, speak in their accent, worship their god etc
So if someone decides to run around in a white robe with a pointy white hood while waving their confederate flag with their right hand and giving the Nazi salute with their left, that's OK because they are just promoting their beliefs?
Naw buddy, you are dead wrong. It is NOT OK and they do not have any legal or civil rights here. Get rid of them!
DON'T KNOW BOUT THE SHUCKING ANF JIVING on Tola, besides St. John that is just lost right now we ERADICATE RACISM WITH BRUTE FORCE on St.Thomas & St.Croix.
SHOOOOOT we still play "KILL THE RABBIT" by Jamband.
understand the US constitution, they think that refers to constipation which is what they are.
The local press in the town where they live should be given both videos and pictures of their stellar citizens' conduct in the USVI. That 100 proof cruzan has a way of bringing out the real you, doesn't it?
The truth of the matter is Liquor causes someone to do what was already in their heart to do, it just magnifies it to the point of excess, if it doesn't render you unconscious first! It's time we STOP blaming LIQUOR for the RACIST, BIAS, BIGOTRY that has invaded our societies for centuries!!!
Sicken to the core and of course when I went to Nanny Cay to forewarn others of their racism and the incident I was told not so and so they are so nice blabber..... of course, no one took me seriously and dismissed the incident ....smh