Controversy

April 25, 2020, Zorn apologized for wearing a protective face mask on the Michigan Senate floor depicting a design similar to the battle flag of the Confederate States of America, a deeply divisive image offensive to many Americans as a symbol of racism and slavery.^{[5][6][7][8][9][10]} It occurred during votes limiting emergency powers of Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer.^[6][9] The previous week, protests at the Michigan Capitol had featured Confederate flags and swastikas.^[9][11][12]

Zorn had denied that it depicted a Confederate flag to local television station WLNS,^[5] saying he believed the mask was meant to depict the state flag of either Tennessee or Kentucky although the mask had no resemblance to either flag.^{[8][9][10][13]} Zorn also stated “... [E]ven if it was a Confederate flag, you know, we should be talking about teaching our national history in schools and that’s part of our national history and it’s something we can’t just throw away because it is part of our history."^{[5][6][7][8][13]} Zorn further explained, "And if we want to make sure that the atrocities that happened during that time doesn’t happen again, we should be teaching it. Our kids should know what that flag stands for.”^{[5][6][7][10]} Asked by a WLNS reporter what the flag stands for, Zorn replied, "The Confederacy."^{[6][7][8][13]}

Michigan was a Union state. Zorn's constituency in Lenawee and Monroe counties was historically active in the Underground Railroad.^[10] State Senator Jeff Irwin said the Confederate flag should never be worn, "especially by an elected official. It dishonors our fellow Michiganders. It dishonors the battle flags in our rotunda. It dishonors our state."^[6] The Confederate battle flag can signal support for white supremacy.^[10] Garlin Gilchrist, Michigan’s first black lieutenant governor and the first black person to preside over the Michigan state senate, called Zorn’s choice of mask “appalling and disgusting”.^[9]