Councilmembers mostly silent following Confederate Flag flown over TIAA Bank Field

JACKSONVILE, Fla. — Most members of Jacksonville’s City Council remained silent Monday after a plane pulling a Confederate Flag and the words “Put Monuments Back” flew over TIAA Bank Stadium just before the Jaguars game Sunday.

Attendees we spoke with at TIAA Bank Field were shocked by the display.

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“I don’t agree with that whatsoever,” said Jags fan Evan Fricke.

“There is no place for hate of any kind in our city,” said Mayor Lenny Curry in a tweet Sunday.

Curry also noted he allocated half a million dollars in the city budget to remove the city’s last two Confederate statues.

But putting those funds to work is up to city council, which for years has punted the issue down the road.

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At least one councilmember is hoping the incident will lead to the removal of the city’s last two Confederate monuments.

Councilman Matt Carlucci (R-Group 4 At-Large) has been one of, if not the most, vocal supporters on council for removing the statues.

“Where we are all pulling for the Jaguars regardless of our Democratic Party, our color, ethnicity and they used that place to try to divide us,” said Carlucci.

Carlucci said it would take just four council members flipping to make it happen.

We emailed all 19 councilmembers asking them where they stand on monument removal and whether the public display swayed their thoughts on the issue.

Only four responded.

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“If the flyover was done to try and keep the monuments, I don’t believe the stunt helped their cause,” said Councilmember Randy DeFoor (R-District 14).

DeFoor has previously spoken in support of keeping the monuments.

“Hate of any kind should not be tolerated and I remain consistent in my position against it. Our reaction to any show of hate should be one unity and togetherness of all people,” said Council Vice President Ron Salem (R-Group 2 At-Large).

“My position has not changed. As a Jacksonville City Council Member, my goal is to help move Jacksonville and the citizens of District 7 forward. I do not believe that by flying it, ALL were served by it,” said Councilmember Reggie Gaffney Jr. (D-District 7).

Councilmember Matt Carlucci said he fears displays like the Confederate Flag and the antisemitic messages that were broadcasted on the stadium last month will continue to escalate if council doesn’t act.

“And decide to do the right thing, which is to remove them,” said Carlucci.

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