A Boca Raton, Fla. man appears to be causing a neighborhood stir after planting a Ku Klux Klan flag and recruitment sign on his property.
WPTV-TV reported Wednesday that the individual, who would only identify himself as K. Hayes, has the flag on his front lawn, along with a noose and "members wanted" notice. He told the TV station that the display was an act of "free speech."
"They never said anything to my face and they're entitled to their own free speech as well as I am," Hayes said of his neighbors' thoughts on the flag.
WFOR-TV added that when asked what message he was sending to the community, Hayes said there was none, calling it a symbol of "heritage."
“I’m not sending any message,” he told reporters. “The same thing when the Puerto Rican flies his flag. He’s proud of his heritage. I’m proud of mine.”
Some neighbors see differently, with one concerned woman saying it reminded her of the "old days."
"I didn't think that was still going on anymore," Margaret Martin said, according to WPTV-TV. "This is 2014."
“Is he gonna burn a cross on my yard?" Martin added, according to WFOR-TV. "You gotta be sick to do something like that. Or you want attention.”
Hayes and Martin also spoke with WPLG-TV about the flag issue. Watch their full exchange below.
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