WALPOLE, Mass. — A suburban Boston high school is taking steps to disassociate itself from a Confederate flag banner located on a graduate’s property overlooking the school’s athletic field.
The Boston Globe reports Walpole High School intends to keep their Rebels moniker, but school officials unanimously voted Thursday to permanently keep up a banner blocking sight of the divisive flag.
School Committee chairwoman Nancy Gallivan says “Walpole is not a racist town and doesn’t want to be perceived that way.”
The Confederate banner was put up about five years ago by Joseph Finneran, a 1969 graduate whose backyard neighbors Turco Field.
The school unveiled a 14-by-7-foot banner marked with a “W” to block Finneran’s flag during their graduation ceremony in the spring.
A second banner with an anti-flag message will also be erected.
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