On July 4, the Utah chapter of Black Lives Matter called the American flag a symbol of hatred and racism. The local branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), however, says it disagrees with BLM Utah’s stance.President of the NAACP Utah State Conference Jeanetta Williams says the flag “stands for all people who have lived and served to bring about the best of the American experience, that all people are created equal.” Williams says the NAACP recognizes America’s history of poor treatment for minorities, but the way forward, she says, starts with respect and togetherness for all Americans.
Local civil rights activist Kamaal Ahmad says BLM Utah has gone too far with this statement. He says the organization doesn’t speak for the black population in Utah and “it would be greatly appreciated if their leadership took ownership for their personal feelings, experiences and personal views."
