The Alabama chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-AL) today welcomed the decision by the Montgomery City Council to approve a new city flag that replaces the previous design containing Confederate imagery.
The newly adopted flag was approved by a 6-1 vote following advocacy led by local students who raised concerns about the former flag, which dated back to 1952 and included Confederate symbols. The new design features a gold and blue star representing the city along with nine smaller stars symbolizing Montgomery’s council districts.
In a statement, CAIR-AL Staff Attorney Britton O’Shields said:
“We welcome Montgomery’s decision to adopt a new city flag that better reflects unity, inclusion, and the shared future of all residents. Symbols matter. Replacing imagery tied to the white supremacist Confederacy with a design chosen through community engagement and student leadership sends a positive message about moving forward together as one city.”
O’Shields added that CAIR has repeatedly called for the removal of Confederate names, holidays, flags, statues, and symbols nationwide.
She said CAIR and the American Muslim community stand in solidarity with all those challenging systemic anti-Black racism, antisemitism, xenophobia, Islamophobia, white supremacy, and all other forms of bigotry.
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CONTACT: A. Britton O’Shields, Staff Attorney – Alabama Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-Alabama), aoshields@cair.com, 205-206-6399, 205-616-0733; CAIR National Deputy Director Edward Ahmed Mitchell, 404-285-9530, e-Mitchell@cair.com; CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper, 202-744-7726, ihooper@cair.com; CAIR National Communications Manager Ismail Allison, 202-770-6280, iallison@cair.com