Kemba Walker, a Bolton Celtics player, caused a stir when he entered TD Garden for an NBA play-in tournament game against the Washington Wizards. What caught everyone’s attention was his bright yellow jacket emblazoned with the Gadsden Flag on the back, featuring a coiled rattlesnake and the phrase “Don’t Tread on Me.” The flag, once a symbol of American resistance, has now been adopted by white supremacists and far-right groups.
The Bolton Celtics quickly deleted the tweet showcasing Walker’s jacket. The Gadsden Flag’s evolving symbolism has been a topic of debate.
As Rob Walker noted in a 2017 New Yorker piece, it has drawn comparisons to the Confederate battle flag due to its association with racial hatred and its historical ties to a government that supported slavery.
It remains uncertain whether Kemba Walker was aware of the flag’s controversial history. This incident serves as a reminder of the importance of understanding the symbols we wear and the messages they convey in today’s sensitive social climate.
