Whitfield Jenkins, 74, has lived in Ocala all his life.

He lived through segregation and the Civil Rights movement. But as long as the Confederate flag is at the Marion County Government complex, Jenkins believes Marion County will be divided.

“We have a number of strategies, including the possibility of an economic boycott," said Jenkins, who opposes the Confederate flag being flown on public property that is not a museum.

Dozens of people against the flag held a silent protest at the square in Downtown Ocala Friday night. 

Supporters of the flag, including some who participated with thousands of others in the Florida Southern Pride Ride a few weeks ago, proudly held their own counter-protest and rally to get passing cars to honk in support.

“Nobody was protesting it before that happened but now it’s like lit up. One kid stirred all this up. If everybody had a problem, why wasn’t somebody (something about it) last year," shared Confederate flag supporter Rick Hart. The kid he referred to is Dylann Roof, the accused church shooter in Charleston, South Carolina.

However, opponents said the flag stands for hate and bigotry and it’s not about southern pride.

“That has no place in today’s world. This isn’t 1865. This is 2015 and it’s time for it to go," said Dunnellon resident Evonne Depew, who is against the public display of the Confederate flag.

Supporters of Confederate flag say it’s about heritage not hate.

“We want this flag over the veterans center, flying over the veterans who have sacrificed and who’s given their life for you and I and our freedoms and our liberties of this country. And to take it down and trying to erase history, it’s America," said Stephanie DeGrove, who lives in Ocala and supports the Confederate flag flying outside of the Marion County Government complex.

"It’s part of our history, it’s not going anywhere and it’s absurd for people to want to bring it down," DeGrove said.

Marion County commissioners have previously said they want the flag issue resolved by mid-September or early October.

So they have asked the Marion County Historical Commission to provide an opinion on the best place to display the flag.

The Marion County historical commission will have a public meeting about the flag Monday night at 5:30 at the Marion County Growth Services building, which is located at 2710 East Silver Springs Boulevard in Ocala.