The supporters argued that they believe a majority of people in the state want the flag to remain where it is. To remove it, they said, would be to go against the will of the people.

Ryan Hughes, one of those who attended, said flag opponents aren’t taking the symbol’s representation of Southern history into account.

“They are wrong,” Hughes said. “They need a history lesson. They need to go back and look at what this flag really stands for, and that is states rights. That’s freedom from tyranny. That’s freedom from subjugation from the federal government.”

Several anti-flag demonstrators where there as well and debated the flag proponents. While the discussion at times got heated, it remained civil.