ST. PAUL — A Minnesota-based group plans to hold a rally in support of the Confederate battle flag at the Minnesota State Capitol.

A permit application for the Sept. 5 rally was approved Wednesday. The application from a group called “Minnesota 10,000 for Southern Heritage” estimates about 25 people plan to attend the event.

Rally organizer B.C. Johnson said the group wants to “annihilate hate” from association with the flag, which he said represents Southerners’ historic fight against a “tyrannical and hypocritical group.” He said he’s African-American and moved from South Carolina two years ago.