FRANKLIN, Tenn. A task force designated to determine the livelihood of the Williamson County seal has reported to county commissioners that they should consider removing the Confederate flag from the design.

The 30-page report detailed three key options in removing the emblem from the Confederacy from the seal.

The seal: Williamson citizens speak for, against Confederate flag on County Seal

'A day of reckoning': Debate ensues over Confederate flag in Williamson County seal

The entrance lobby in the Williamson County courthouse in downtown Franklin features the Williamson County seal on the floor which includes a Confederate flag.(Photo: Shelley Mays/The Tennessean )

"After rounds of discussions and several edits, we are proud to say we remained unified in our recommendation because we made sure not to divide over our diverse personal attachments and various historical interpretations over the meaning and evolution of the Confederate flag," the group wrote in the report. "The recommendation of the task force to the Williamson County Commission is to request removal of the Confederate flag from the upper left hand corner of the seal."

They recommended:

The task force emerged after a three-and-a-half hour debate with multiple amendments introduced from the Williamson County Board of Commissioners, which voted 18-5 to approve theformation of a nine-member task force to study the seal.

Adopted in 1968 during the civil rights movement, the Williamson County seal has drawnmountingcriticism from constituents.

Most commissioners said they received an enormous response from the community about the seal in emails, phone calls andpetitions some against the Confederate symbol on the seal and some in favor.

The commissionwill discuss the report at its upcoming meeting this month.

Kerri Bartlett contributed to this report.

Emily West is a reporter for The Tennessean, covering Franklin and Williamson County. Follow her on Twitter @emwest22 and email her at erwest@tennessean.com.

Read or Share this story: https://www.tennessean.com/story/news/local/williamson/2020/09/05/williamson-county-seal-remove-confederate-flag-task-force-recommends/5730305002/

Read the original:

Task force: Take the Confederate flag off the Williamson Co. seal - Tennessean