King Residents Fighting for Christian Flag

KING, N.C. (WGHP) - After King officials voted to take down the Christian flag at the Veterans Memorial in Central Park, dozens of people are asking for city officials to reconsider.

City leaders voted 3-to-1 last week to remove the flag due to a lawsuit threat from the ACLU, with councilman Wesley Carter being the only vote against removing the flag.

City Attorney Walter Pitt said the city received a letter from the Americans United for the Separation of Church and State on August 11 and a letter from the ACLU on August 16 threatening lawsuits if the flag was not taken down. The decision to remove the flag stems from estimates that it could cost the city as much as $300,000 to fight a possible lawsuit from the ACLU.

The flag has been flown at the memorial since it was built in 2004. The flag was taken down on Thursday.

Several people in King are now protesting the decision by flying the Christian flag on their personal property.