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Daniel Argueta says the Confederate flag is a racist symbol that represents the effort to maintain slavery.
So when spectators attending a city-sponsored demolition derby on Saturday were asked to rise for the national anthem as trucks made a loop through the West Jordan Arena, the city resident and his family stayed seated in protest of a Confederate flag flying on the back of one of the vehicles.
"What made it upsetting was when they asked everyone to stand and salute the flag in honor of our men and women serving in the military and our police officers and they play the national anthem all while flying the Confederate flag," Argueta said. "We could not morally stand and salute the Confederate flag, given what it stands for."
Argueta, a computer network engineer and founder of the Brown Berets chapter in the Salt Lake City area, left the derby early with his wife and their five children. He complained about the flag to West Jordan personnel working at the derby, he said, adding that "for a city-sponsored event, you don't expect that."
West Jordan spokeswoman Kim Wells said the city handles ticket sales and a contractor, Stirrin' Dirt, puts on the show. She said the driver complied with a request by a city staff member to remove the flag after Argueta pointed it out.
"That's not something we feel is appropriate at a city event," Wells said, adding that West Jordan will make sure it doesn't happen again.
Stirrin' Dirt officials could not be reached for comment Monday.
The inclusion of the Confederate flag at another recent government-sponsored event in Utah also sparked controversy.
American Fork condemned a display of the Confederate flag in an unsanctioned local float in the city's Steel Days parade in July. The float slipped in before the official parade and walked in front of the line for a while.
City officials said the flag flying from behind a decorated golf cart was a troubling display of hate.
Twitter: Pamela MansonSLC
The Associated Press contributed to this story.