Six Flags Over Texas Down to One Flag After Protests

Six Flags Over Texas, the iconic theme park located in Arlington, Texas, has entertained guests with its thrilling roller coasters and family-friendly attractions since it opened in 1961. The park has traditionally flown six flags, one for each nation that has ruled over Texas, for over 56 years, but protesters have convinced the brand to remix their tradition by replacing them all with the current flag of the United States of America.

Originally, Six Flags Over Texas had proudly flown the flags of Spain, Mexico, France, the Republic of Texas, the United States, and the Confederacy at the toll gate to showcase the state’s rich history. All six of Six Flags’ park entrance flags were replaced with the U.S. flag on Friday, August 18 in response to the nationwide protests and controversy regarding anything Confederate. I should note that Six Flags never flew the widely recognized battle flag featuring a blue X lined with stars on red, but instead used the lesser-known flag that represented the separate nation of the Confederate States of America, which sports three large red and white bars, as well as a ring of white stars inside a blue square.

Sharon Parker, a representative for Six Flags, went on to explain the reasoning behind the park’s choice to fly United States of America flags in the place of the other flags with historical significance:

“At Six Flags Over Texas we strive every single day to make people happy and to create a fun, thrilling and safe family friendly experience for our guests,” park spokeswoman Sharon Parker said in an email. “We always choose to focus on celebrating the things that unite us versus those that divide us. As such, we have changed the flag displays in our park to feature American flags.”

This one’s a shame because the Confederacy has no more influence on the great state of Texas in 2017 than Spain does, and this individual Six Flags location mothballed five flags that were a part of the varied history that has made Texas what it is today. At least they’re flying six U.S. flags —or at least they will until protesters find the American flag or the number six to be too offensive.