A boathouse at Armier is flying a Confederate flag, which many believe to be a symbol of white nationalism, as this photo sent in by a Lovin Malta reader shows. 

Racism is illegal in Malta, but there is heated debate in the United States over the status of the Flag – critics say it has its roots in a pro-slavery movement, while defenders argue it has now become a symbol of southern US pride .

The flag belonged to ‘The Confederacy’, a group of 11 southern US states which self-declared themselves a separate nation in 1861 in protest at President Abraham Lincoln’s plans to clamp down on slavery. This prompted the American Civil War, which ended in defeat for the Confederates.

Old wounds have now been re-opened after several US states and cities announced plans to pull down Confederate flags and monuments – which they deem to be racist symbols – from public places. Indeed, the recent deadly white nationalist rally in Charlottesville, Virginia was spurred by the city’s decision to tear down the monument of a Confederate general.

During the protest, a man – 20-year-old neo-Nazi James Fields – drove his car into a group of counter-protestors, killing Heather Heyer, 32, a paralegal and civil rights activist. 

Heyer’s friends described her as a person who always felt compelled to speak out against racism, bigotry and fascism. Indeed, her last Facebook cover photo read: “If you’re not outraged, you’re not paying attention”.

US President Donald Trump has denounced moves to tear down Confederate flags and symbols as attempts to erase parts of American history. 

“This week, it is Robert E. Lee and, this week, Stonewall Jackson. Is it George Washington next? You have to ask yourself, where does it stop?” he said in a tweet. 

His refusal to instantly condemn neo-Nazis and white nationalists in the wake of Heyer’s murder was met with widespread criticism from Democrats and Republicans alike.

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Tim Diacono

Tim is interested in the rapid evolution of human society and is passionate about justice, human rights and cutting-edge political debates. You can follow him on Instagram or Twitter/X at @timdiacono or reach out to him at [email protected]