Confederate flag flown in Bayport-Blue Point St. Patrick's Day Parade, Chamber of Commerce president says
A Confederate flag was flown from a truck in the Bayport-Blue Point St. Patrick’s Day Parade on Sunday, Bayport-Blue Point Chamber of Commerce president Karl Auwaerter confirmed in an emailed statement.
"We deeply regret the disturbing display that occurred during this year’s Saint Patrick’s Day Parade," Auwaerter said in the statement. "What happened today has never happened before and we were unprepared."
Auwaerter said the parade committee did not "have a protocol for this."
"For that reason, we did not act as quickly as we should have," he said. "Once the information was relayed, we worked quickly during the parade to have the displays removed. Please be assured that this will never happen again."
The flag was flying from a truck behind another truck with a flag for The Fish Store, according to a statement posted to the Bayport seafood market and restaurant's Facebook page.
"In no way, shape or form do we support this flag or its meaning," the statement read.
"We apologize for any misunderstanding and anyone that was offended," it added.
Suffolk Legis. Dominick Thorne (R-Patchogue) said he marched in the parade but was near the front and hadn’t been aware of the Confederate flag incident until about noon Monday.
"I was not only surprised to hear this happened, but I wouldn’t support anything that divides our county," Thorne said. "There’s no room for hate in our county."
The parade ran from Montauk Highway and Snedecor Avenue to Montauk Highway and Blue Point Avenue. More than 60 organizations, bands and floats from the two communities participated.
"The one day everybody in both communities come together, we can all share some good times," Auwaerter told Newsday during the parade.
With John Valenti
A Confederate flag was flown from a truck in the Bayport-Blue Point St. Patrick’s Day Parade on Sunday, Bayport-Blue Point Chamber of Commerce president Karl Auwaerter confirmed in an emailed statement.
"We deeply regret the disturbing display that occurred during this year’s Saint Patrick’s Day Parade," Auwaerter said in the statement. "What happened today has never happened before and we were unprepared."
Auwaerter said the parade committee did not "have a protocol for this."
"For that reason, we did not act as quickly as we should have," he said. "Once the information was relayed, we worked quickly during the parade to have the displays removed. Please be assured that this will never happen again."
The flag was flying from a truck behind another truck with a flag for The Fish Store, according to a statement posted to the Bayport seafood market and restaurant's Facebook page.
"In no way, shape or form do we support this flag or its meaning," the statement read.
"We apologize for any misunderstanding and anyone that was offended," it added.
Suffolk Legis. Dominick Thorne (R-Patchogue) said he marched in the parade but was near the front and hadn’t been aware of the Confederate flag incident until about noon Monday.
"I was not only surprised to hear this happened, but I wouldn’t support anything that divides our county," Thorne said. "There’s no room for hate in our county."
The parade ran from Montauk Highway and Snedecor Avenue to Montauk Highway and Blue Point Avenue. More than 60 organizations, bands and floats from the two communities participated.
"The one day everybody in both communities come together, we can all share some good times," Auwaerter told Newsday during the parade.
With John Valenti
Joshua Needelman covers the Town of North Hempstead for Newsday. A Long Island native and University of Maryland graduate, his work has appeared in publications including The New York Times and The Washington Post.
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