A Michigan state senator apologized after wearing a Confederate flag face mask on the House floor of the state capitol.
Republican Sen. Dale Zorn wore a face mask depicting the Confederate flag on Friday while the chamber was discussing legislation about Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s executive orders throughout the coronavirus pandemic. He said he knew the pattern would “raise some eyebrows” but claimed he did not think it was a Confederate flag pattern.
“It wasn’t a Confederate flag. It was a mask that my wife made for me, and she wanted me to wear it today, so I did,” Zorn explained. “I told my wife it would probably raise some eyebrows, but it was not a Confederate flag. And I think even if it was a Confederate flag, we should be talking about teaching our national history in schools.”
He continued, “That’s part of our national history, and it’s something we can’t just throw away because it is part of our history. And if we want to make sure that the atrocities that happened during that time doesn’t happen again, we should be teaching it.”
Zorn claimed the pattern on the mask was “more similar to” the state flags of Kentucky or Tennessee.
“It was not made out of flag material,” he added. “If you didn’t look at it closely, you might think it was a Confederate flag.”
He issued a full apology for the situation on Saturday, tweeting, “I’m sorry for my choice of pattern on the face mask I wore yesterday on the Senate floor. I did not intend to offend anyone; however, I realize that I did, and for that I am sorry. Those who know me best know that I do not support the things this pattern represents.
“My actions were an error in judgment for which there are no excuses and I will learn from this episode,” he added.
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My actions were an error in judgment for which there are no excuses and I will learn from this episode.
— Dale W. Zorn (@DaleZornSenate) April 25, 2020
There have been several protests in Michigan against Whitmer’s aggressive stay-at-home orders. A few of the protesters did fly Confederate flags during one of the largest protests at the capitol. Michigan fought for the Union during the Civil War.
As of Friday, Whitmer mandated that residents wear a face mask while in stores or other buildings open to the public.
