Confederate flag represents a rebellion

To the editor:

It is sad to say that Iowa politicians (Joni Ernst, Steven King) have attracted white supremacist organizations that want to contribute to their campaigns.

Iowa politicians have sold out to a national platform forgetting what Iowa stands for as an individual state. Ernst spokeswoman Brook Hougesen delivered a statement on June 22 indicating the senator will be donating the white supremacist's donations to the Mother Emanuel Hope Fund, set up by the city of Charleston for the families of victims of the shooting. But why donate dirty money to victims of people from an organization that shows nothing but hate for African Americans?

History shows that when the Confederates rebelled against the United States of America in 1861, Iowans answered the call to fight against the uprising. Iowa's 1st Regiment Iowa Volunteer Infantry (African Descent) was an African-American infantry regiment that served in the Union Army during the American Civil War. During that period more than 10 percent of Iowa's population was serving in the military. This rebellion was responsible for the deaths of close to 620,000 Americans, including thousands of Iowans.

As an Iowan I consider the Confederate flag to represent a rebellion against our country, the United States of America. There is no place for that flag in any federal building or state capital.

Benito Tapia

Marion