I visited Palace Playland in Old Orchard Beach this past weekend with my husband and young son. When we got out of our car, on the main drag leading down to the rides and the beach, I was alarmed to see several prominent stores offering T-shirts displaying the Confederate flag and the puzzling slogan “If this flag offends you, you need a history lesson.”
I would suggest that if the Confederate flag does not offend you, you need a history lesson. This racist and hateful symbol has no place in Old Orchard Beach, it was an extremely unwelcoming sight to see, and we will not be returning to Palace Playland or the beach as long as these shirts are displayed in store windows alongside merchandise promoting summer beach fun.
The town of Old Orchard Beach and Palace Playland should know that these shirts are not only racist but also bad for business.
Alejandra O’Leary Dafoe
Portland
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