Bay City Nazi, Confederate Flags Anger Birney Park Neighborhood Residents In Michigan Town

WNEM TV 5

Two men in Bay City, Mich. hanging controversial flags from their homes have shocked members of their local community -- but they say they have a reasonable excuse.

About six weeks ago, two men began hanging provocative flags in the window of their residence near the city's Birney Park. First came a swastika-emblazoned Nazi banner clearly visible to those walking by on the street; later it was replaced by a Confederate stars-and-bars flag. The gesture outraged some neighbors, like Kyra Bernie.

"The flags have got to go" she told WNEM-TV. "Just imagine how Jewish people would feel if they seen this flag. It's not right."

Darold Newton, president of the local NAACP chapter, told the Bay City Times he was shocked to discover the flags while driving past the house. He plans to talk to the man about his motivations and bring the issue up at his organization's next meeting.

Theres no good associated with those flags , he said. Those symbols are not good and should not be presented in this community. When its blatant like that, it does warrant some discussion."

While Newton acknowledged the residents' constitutional right to free speech, he questioned the sense of hanging the flags in a racially diverse neighborhood.

Bay City, located near Michigan's thumb, is a majority-white city, but also includes a sizable black population, according to the 2010 U.S. Census.

Both flags had been taken down as of June 6, according to MLive. The 43-year-old army vet who lived at the home said he hung up the flags to scare away drug dealers who had been openly selling their product on the street.

Its a visual warning ; thats all its really meant for, he told the Bay City Times. All were letting them know is, Do not walk in front of our house with this (expletive) again.

The Bay City residents aren't the only Michiganders who have displayed the Confederate flag. Kid Rock angered some members of the NAACP in 2011 for using the Confederate flag during his concerts. He was honored that year with the Detroit chapter's Great Expectations Award, but some members boycotted his appearance.