Two North Alabama workers say they were fired over Confederate flag and political correctness gone too far

DECATUR, Ala. — Two Decatur workers lost their jobs on Monday, and one of them is claiming his Confederate flag is to blame.

Phillip Sims, who worked for Turner Industries, told Huntsville’s WHNT that the Confederate flag on the back of his truck was the reason his boss fired him.

Sims claims his manager told him, “Hey, we like your work here and we like you. But your flag, it’s gonna have to go. I hate to be the one to tell you that but if you don’t I’m gonna have to fire you.”

He says Turner Industries has called him three times since his severance on Monday wanting to hire him back, but the only condition is that he cannot show up with the flag. Sims stands by his actions and believes that ‘political correctness’ has gone too far. “I’m unemployed now but I still feel that I made the right decision,” says Sims.

“[The flag] is a statement of our heritage and it’s just my right to have it and I don’t think that I should just give it up because somebody told me I had to,” Sims said.

This continues the prominence of both private and public entities removing the flag from plain view. Earlier this month, Yellowhammer reported on Walmart’s refusal to make a student’s class ring because the school’s mascot was a rebel.

In light of his firing, Sims has contacted the ACLU to see if they are interested in taking his case.