Fifteen Confederate flag supporters from Georgia have been indicted following a confrontation with a black family.
Douglas County District Attorney Brian Fortner has announced charges against the members of a group called the ‘Respect The Flag’.
Authorities also say that 15 are accused of making terroristic threats and violating a street gang law, two men have also been charged with battery.
The charges stem from a confrontation between flag supporters and a black family gathered for a child’s birthday party in Douglasville.
Media reports say a group of pickup trucks decorated with flags including the Confederate banner went by the party on July 25. Shouting soon followed.
Douglasville police said that they were aware of the truck convoy and followed it for a while when it came into their jurisdiction but did not see ‘any criminal or traffic infractions’.
The incident and prominent use of the Confederate flag comes amid renewed debate over the symbol, which was the flag of the secessionist Southern states’ army.
One of those indicted, Levi Bush, claimed after the incident that while some people did yell as they drove by the party, that it was the partygoers who were aggressive and threw rocks at their trucks.
Two other men – Hood and Thomas Summers – have also been charged with battery for a fight that happened that same day.
