Nazi Flag at Kane County Flea Market Prompts Outrage

St. Charles, IL — A vendor at the Kane County Flea Market was asked to take down a Nazi flag on Saturday, while a photograph of the flag spread on social media afterward.

The flea market operators were compelled to respond to the criticism generated by the flag and the photograph.

The vendor has been coming to the flea market in St. Charles for 30 years, and the flag was for sale. Usually, he sells furniture and household items, reports the Daily Herald. The Nazi flag was an unusual item for him to display, and it's considered a collectible item.

The photograph was shared hundreds of times on Facebook, prompting a great deal of criticism aimed at the vendor and the market.

The flea market operators asked him to remove the flag, and he obliged.

Ben Robinson, a member of the family that owns the flea market, issued a public statement on Sunday and described the flag-hanging as "a brief lapse in judgment" by the vendor, acknowledging the Nazi flag "offended many."

Explained Robinson:

"It was dealt with on the spot, as soon as it was recognized. This was not a dealer making a political statement. It was a dealer selling war memorabilia who, when questioned, recognized the potential hurt it would cause. He was quickly receptive to the education and ensured it was no longer on display. ...

"As a gay male, fortunate to be part of a supportive and diverse "flea market" family, I am very sensitive to injustice and hate on all levels. I live my life by a quote from Elie Wiesel, the Auschwitz survivor and Nobel Laureate, who died this past week. He states, "The opposite of love is not hate, it is indifference." I would argue this is demonstrated by inaction and standing by as a passive observer as wrong occurs.

"Regretfully, things occur that we cannot control. We cannot control what we do not know, so please inform us so that we can respond by recognizing, intervening and solve any issue."

The ensuing reaction was mostly favorable.

A few individuals saw those offended by the Nazi flag as overreacting and the flag's removal as "politically correct" caving.

Such views inspired more personal commentary.