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http://www.13newsnow.com/story/news/loc ... /29153769/
NORFOLK, Va. (WVEC) -- Governor Terry McAuliffe (D-VA) says it's time to remove the logo from the Sons of Confederate Veterans state-issued specialty license plate for automobiles and motorcycles.
He cited the U.S. Supreme Court ruling from last week that allows states to ban the Confederate emblem.
Speaking in Norfolk, at the MacArthur Memorial Museum, McAuliffe said, " You know, it's a hurtful symbol. It's a divisive symbol for so many people. I spend seven days a week trying to unite people. We just don't need any symbols that are hurtful to people. We don't."
But, the Battle Flag of the Army of Northern Virginia is an important symbol for others. Frank Earnest of Virginia Beach, the great-great grandson of a Confederate soldier, and himself a member of the Virginia Division of the Sons of Confederate Veterans, calls McAuliffe's decision a betrayal.
"Now, the Governor of Virginia says I can honor Jimmy Buffett and Parrotheads on my license plate, but can't have a symbol that honors my blood ancestors that fought and died for the Commonwealth of Virginia," he said.
McAuliffe asked the Attorney General's office to take steps to reverse the prior court ruling that requires the Confederate flag be placed on state license plates. Second, he directed Secretary of Transportation Aubrey Layne to develop a plan for replacing the currently-issued plates as quickly as possible.
The General Assembly approved the license plate in 1999, but federal court decisions at the time kept lawmakers from excluding the battle flag from the design.
McAuliffe praised South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley for calling for the removal of the Confederate Battle Flag from the state Capitol grounds in Columbia.
"As Governor Haley said yesterday, her state can ill afford to let this symbol continue to divide the people of South Carolina. I believe the same is true here in Virginia," he said.
There was no information about how this decision will affect Virginians who currently have the plates.
The General Assembly authorized the Sons of Confederate Veterans license plate in 1999 and the Virginia DMV began issuing them in June of 2002.
As of May 31, 2015, there were a total of 1,594 active Sons of Confederate Veterans license plates - 1,334 regular license plates and 260 motorcycle plates, Katy Lloyd with the Va. Department of Motor vehicles told 13News Now.com.
Lloyd said the DMV is waiting on a directive from the administration on how to proceed.
Attorney General Mark Herring released this statement: "It's past time to move beyond this divisive symbol, which for so many represents oppression and injustice. I applaud Governor McAuliffe for his leadership and will work with him and his team to take the steps necessary to remove the Confederate battle flag from Virginia's license plates."
Former Virginia governor Sen. Tim Kaine (D-VA) said, "I support Governor McAuliffe's call to remove the Confederate battle flag from state-issued Virginia license plates. The use of the flag by public bodies is integrally connected to celebration of the cause of the Confederacy, which is inimical to American values. With the Supreme Court's decision last week in Walker v. Texas Division, Sons of Confederate Veterans, Inc., prior court rulings in Virginia that have protected the use of the emblem on license plates are now obsolete. This is the right call for the Commonwealth and I commend the Governor for his leadership on this issue."
http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/na ... /29273659/
NASCAR needs to ban the Confederate flag from all of its racetracks. Now.
The sanctioning body generated some headlines this week when it supported banning the flag from the grounds of the South Carolina state capitol.
In doing so, NASCAR reiterated its stance on the flag: That in hopes of providing an inclusive environment at races, it will "continue to disallow the use of the Confederate flag symbol in any official NASCAR capacity."
But the statement didn't go far enough, because it also said this: "NASCAR recognizes that freedom of expression is an inherent right of all citizens."
FOR THE WIN
NASCAR supports removal of Confederate flag from South Carolina capitol
In the wake of the mass shooting in Charleston that claimed nine lives, it's never been so clear that the flag is a toxic, modern-day symbol of divisiveness.
If you walk through the infield at places like Darlington Raceway in South Carolina or Talladega Superspeedway in Alabama, the flag can easily be spotted flying from the tops of motorhomes parked in the infield.
It can even be seen on TV as the camera sweeps by to show cars racing. The sight of it wouldn't feel very inclusive for someone who believes — as most do today — that the flag represents a history of oppression and racism.
Just ask Brad Daugherty, the JTG Daugherty Racing co-owner who told Sirius XM Radio this week that the flag "makes my skin crawl."
"Even though I do my best to not acknowledge it or to pay any attention to it, it's there and it bothers me," said Daugherty, who is African-American. "The old heritage versus hate thing in my mind is ridiculous because that flag, to any African-American person, does not represent any type of heritage. It 100% represents hate."
NASCAR certainly hasn't endorsed the flag. Three years ago, it angered PGA star Bubba Watson by preventing him from driving his General Lee car — the one from Dukes of Hazzard with a Confederate flag on the roof — around the track before an event at Phoenix International Raceway.
And in 2005, NASCAR chairman and CEO Brian France told 60 Minutes that "it's not a flag I look at with anything favorable. That's for sure."
But France also said: "These are massive facilities. And I can't tell people what flag to fly."
Sure he can. It's simple: NASCAR can order racetracks to not permit any displays of the Confederate flag on track property, including from the tops of infield campers.
USA TODAY Sports' Jeff Gluck breaks down what to watch for at Sonoma Raceway.
This isn't a free speech issue. Racetracks are private property, and it's within a business's discretion to disallow certain symbols.
If a camper was flying a flag with a horrible graphic image or a series of expletives written on it, NASCAR would likely have the track take it down. The sport couldn't afford to have that seen on TV.
What if a fan flew a Nazi flag on the property? What about an ISIS flag? Surely, someone would order it removed.
Some NASCAR fans display the Stars and Bars because they believe it's a tribute to their Southern roots. So cracking down on those who fly the Confederate flag at races could further alienate some hardcore fans who have grown upset with NASCAR because of its many rules changes over the past decade. Would NASCAR want to risk giving them a reason to leave for good? Probably not.
It's easy to support South Carolina's efforts to remove the flag from the capitol grounds. It's harder to look in the mirror and make a decision that could impact business, even if it's the right one.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/06/2 ... 48614.html
http://www.cnn.com/2015/06/22/politics/ ... -carolina/
CNN)—America's leading merchants have spoken: The Confederate flag is coming off the shelves.
Walmart, Amazon, eBay and Sears all announced bans on the sale of Confederate flag merchandise, amid an intensifying national debate over the use of the controversial flag.
The announcements are the latest indication that the flag, a symbol of the slave-holding South, has become toxic in the aftermath of a shooting last week at a historic African-American church in Charleston, South Carolina. Gov. Nikki Haley announced in a Monday afternoon news conference that she supports removing the Confederate flag from the state capitol grounds
A decade after the end of the Civil War, a veteran of the Confederate States of America examines a Union water bottle in front of a Confederate flag in 1875. Here's a look at the evolution of that flag
A decade after the end of the Civil War, a veteran of the Confederate States of America examines a Union water bottle in front of a Confederate flag in 1875. Here's a look at the evolution of that flag:
The first national flag of the Confederate States of America was created in 1861 and had seven stars to represent the breakaway states South Carolina, Mississippi, Florida, Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana and Texas.
The second National Flag of the Confederacy was issued by the Confederate Congress on May 1, 1863. This flag was designed to have a distinct difference from the Union's Stars and Stripes.
The third National Flag of the Confederacy was the final flag of the Confederate government and was adopted on March 4, 1865. The flag was not used long before the Confederacy surrendered.
The Confederate Battle flag known as the "Southern Cross" has 13 stars to represent the defeated Confederate States of America.
Dixiecrats resurfaced the "Southern Cross" flag as a political symbol around the time President Harry Truman supported efforts to end lynchings and desegregate the military in 1948. During that same period, the Ku Klux Klan began using the flag more widely.
confederate battle flag 1875
01 confederate flag original
02 confederate flag
03 confederate flag
confederate battle flag sc
confederate flag - RESTRICTED
"We never want to offend anyone with the products that we offer. We have taken steps to remove all items promoting the confederate flag from our assortment -- whether in our stores or on our web site," said Walmart spokesman Brian Nick. "We have a process in place to help lead us to the right decisions when it comes to the merchandise we sell. Still, at times, items make their way into our assortment improperly -- this is one of those instances."
A spokesperson for Amazon told CNN Tuesday afternoon that the company would also remove Confederate flag merchandise.
Johnna Hoff, an eBay spokesperson, said that the Confederate flag has "become a contemporary symbol of divisiveness and racism." It is banning the sale of Confederate flags and "many items containing this image," Hoff said.
RELATED: Nikki Haley calls for removal of Confederate flag
The three companies' statements came in response to a CNN inquiry Monday.
Sears Holdings Corporation, which operates Sears and Kmart, also said it would remove confederate flag merchandise sold by third-party vendors online. It does not currently sell confederate flags at its stores, Sears Holdings spokesman Chris Brathwaite told CNN.
As of Monday, Walmart.com carried the Confederate flag as well as attire featuring the flag's design, such as T-shirts and belt buckles, and the auction site eBay also carried the Confederate flag and accessories such as handbags and jewelry. Amazon.com list pages of Confederate flag-related products, ranging from the flag itself to folding knives, T-shirts, blankets and even shower curtains).
Sales of three versions of the flag were up 1,670% to 2,305% over a period of 24 hours, according to Amazon data. One of those flags, priced at $1.80 plus shipping, is currently the ninth best-selling item in the Patio, Lawn & Garden department and the top-selling item among all outdoor flags and banners sold on Amazon.
The long-running debate over displaying the Confederate flag on government buildings took a swift turn after last week's massacre in Charleston, which left nine African-Americans dead in their church. The shooter, 21-year-old Dylann Roof, has confessed to the murders and has said he wanted to instigate a "race war."
One widely circulated photo of the shooter holding a gun and a Confederate flag has stirred intense outrage. Critics of the flag quickly called on South Carolina to take down what is widely viewed as a symbol of racism.
Haley on Monday declared it was time to remove the flag from the capitol grounds.
"This flag, while an integral part of our past, does not represent the future of our great state," the second-term governor said, in an announcement that drew thunderous applause and cheers.
Haley was surrounded by many of the state's elected officials, including Republican Sens. Lindsey Graham and Tim Scott, Democratic Rep. Jim Clyburn and Republican Rep. Mark Sanford.
Many of the 2016 GOP presidential candidates and likely candidates -- including former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, former Texas Gov. Rick Perry and Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker -- voiced their support for Haley's decision following her speech.
NORFOLK, Va. (WVEC) -- Governor Terry McAuliffe (D-VA) says it's time to remove the logo from the Sons of Confederate Veterans state-issued specialty license plate for automobiles and motorcycles.
He cited the U.S. Supreme Court ruling from last week that allows states to ban the Confederate emblem.
Speaking in Norfolk, at the MacArthur Memorial Museum, McAuliffe said, " You know, it's a hurtful symbol. It's a divisive symbol for so many people. I spend seven days a week trying to unite people. We just don't need any symbols that are hurtful to people. We don't."
But, the Battle Flag of the Army of Northern Virginia is an important symbol for others. Frank Earnest of Virginia Beach, the great-great grandson of a Confederate soldier, and himself a member of the Virginia Division of the Sons of Confederate Veterans, calls McAuliffe's decision a betrayal.
"Now, the Governor of Virginia says I can honor Jimmy Buffett and Parrotheads on my license plate, but can't have a symbol that honors my blood ancestors that fought and died for the Commonwealth of Virginia," he said.
McAuliffe asked the Attorney General's office to take steps to reverse the prior court ruling that requires the Confederate flag be placed on state license plates. Second, he directed Secretary of Transportation Aubrey Layne to develop a plan for replacing the currently-issued plates as quickly as possible.
The General Assembly approved the license plate in 1999, but federal court decisions at the time kept lawmakers from excluding the battle flag from the design.
McAuliffe praised South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley for calling for the removal of the Confederate Battle Flag from the state Capitol grounds in Columbia.
"As Governor Haley said yesterday, her state can ill afford to let this symbol continue to divide the people of South Carolina. I believe the same is true here in Virginia," he said.
There was no information about how this decision will affect Virginians who currently have the plates.
The General Assembly authorized the Sons of Confederate Veterans license plate in 1999 and the Virginia DMV began issuing them in June of 2002.
As of May 31, 2015, there were a total of 1,594 active Sons of Confederate Veterans license plates - 1,334 regular license plates and 260 motorcycle plates, Katy Lloyd with the Va. Department of Motor vehicles told 13News Now.com.
Lloyd said the DMV is waiting on a directive from the administration on how to proceed.
Attorney General Mark Herring released this statement: "It's past time to move beyond this divisive symbol, which for so many represents oppression and injustice. I applaud Governor McAuliffe for his leadership and will work with him and his team to take the steps necessary to remove the Confederate battle flag from Virginia's license plates."
Former Virginia governor Sen. Tim Kaine (D-VA) said, "I support Governor McAuliffe's call to remove the Confederate battle flag from state-issued Virginia license plates. The use of the flag by public bodies is integrally connected to celebration of the cause of the Confederacy, which is inimical to American values. With the Supreme Court's decision last week in Walker v. Texas Division, Sons of Confederate Veterans, Inc., prior court rulings in Virginia that have protected the use of the emblem on license plates are now obsolete. This is the right call for the Commonwealth and I commend the Governor for his leadership on this issue."
http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/na ... /29273659/
NASCAR needs to ban the Confederate flag from all of its racetracks. Now.
The sanctioning body generated some headlines this week when it supported banning the flag from the grounds of the South Carolina state capitol.
In doing so, NASCAR reiterated its stance on the flag: That in hopes of providing an inclusive environment at races, it will "continue to disallow the use of the Confederate flag symbol in any official NASCAR capacity."
But the statement didn't go far enough, because it also said this: "NASCAR recognizes that freedom of expression is an inherent right of all citizens."
FOR THE WIN
NASCAR supports removal of Confederate flag from South Carolina capitol
In the wake of the mass shooting in Charleston that claimed nine lives, it's never been so clear that the flag is a toxic, modern-day symbol of divisiveness.
If you walk through the infield at places like Darlington Raceway in South Carolina or Talladega Superspeedway in Alabama, the flag can easily be spotted flying from the tops of motorhomes parked in the infield.
It can even be seen on TV as the camera sweeps by to show cars racing. The sight of it wouldn't feel very inclusive for someone who believes — as most do today — that the flag represents a history of oppression and racism.
Just ask Brad Daugherty, the JTG Daugherty Racing co-owner who told Sirius XM Radio this week that the flag "makes my skin crawl."
"Even though I do my best to not acknowledge it or to pay any attention to it, it's there and it bothers me," said Daugherty, who is African-American. "The old heritage versus hate thing in my mind is ridiculous because that flag, to any African-American person, does not represent any type of heritage. It 100% represents hate."
NASCAR certainly hasn't endorsed the flag. Three years ago, it angered PGA star Bubba Watson by preventing him from driving his General Lee car — the one from Dukes of Hazzard with a Confederate flag on the roof — around the track before an event at Phoenix International Raceway.
And in 2005, NASCAR chairman and CEO Brian France told 60 Minutes that "it's not a flag I look at with anything favorable. That's for sure."
But France also said: "These are massive facilities. And I can't tell people what flag to fly."
Sure he can. It's simple: NASCAR can order racetracks to not permit any displays of the Confederate flag on track property, including from the tops of infield campers.
USA TODAY Sports' Jeff Gluck breaks down what to watch for at Sonoma Raceway.
This isn't a free speech issue. Racetracks are private property, and it's within a business's discretion to disallow certain symbols.
If a camper was flying a flag with a horrible graphic image or a series of expletives written on it, NASCAR would likely have the track take it down. The sport couldn't afford to have that seen on TV.
What if a fan flew a Nazi flag on the property? What about an ISIS flag? Surely, someone would order it removed.
Some NASCAR fans display the Stars and Bars because they believe it's a tribute to their Southern roots. So cracking down on those who fly the Confederate flag at races could further alienate some hardcore fans who have grown upset with NASCAR because of its many rules changes over the past decade. Would NASCAR want to risk giving them a reason to leave for good? Probably not.
It's easy to support South Carolina's efforts to remove the flag from the capitol grounds. It's harder to look in the mirror and make a decision that could impact business, even if it's the right one.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/06/2 ... 48614.html
http://www.cnn.com/2015/06/22/politics/ ... -carolina/
CNN)—America's leading merchants have spoken: The Confederate flag is coming off the shelves.
Walmart, Amazon, eBay and Sears all announced bans on the sale of Confederate flag merchandise, amid an intensifying national debate over the use of the controversial flag.
The announcements are the latest indication that the flag, a symbol of the slave-holding South, has become toxic in the aftermath of a shooting last week at a historic African-American church in Charleston, South Carolina. Gov. Nikki Haley announced in a Monday afternoon news conference that she supports removing the Confederate flag from the state capitol grounds
A decade after the end of the Civil War, a veteran of the Confederate States of America examines a Union water bottle in front of a Confederate flag in 1875. Here's a look at the evolution of that flag
A decade after the end of the Civil War, a veteran of the Confederate States of America examines a Union water bottle in front of a Confederate flag in 1875. Here's a look at the evolution of that flag:
The first national flag of the Confederate States of America was created in 1861 and had seven stars to represent the breakaway states South Carolina, Mississippi, Florida, Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana and Texas.
The second National Flag of the Confederacy was issued by the Confederate Congress on May 1, 1863. This flag was designed to have a distinct difference from the Union's Stars and Stripes.
The third National Flag of the Confederacy was the final flag of the Confederate government and was adopted on March 4, 1865. The flag was not used long before the Confederacy surrendered.
The Confederate Battle flag known as the "Southern Cross" has 13 stars to represent the defeated Confederate States of America.
Dixiecrats resurfaced the "Southern Cross" flag as a political symbol around the time President Harry Truman supported efforts to end lynchings and desegregate the military in 1948. During that same period, the Ku Klux Klan began using the flag more widely.
confederate battle flag 1875
01 confederate flag original
02 confederate flag
03 confederate flag
confederate battle flag sc
confederate flag - RESTRICTED
"We never want to offend anyone with the products that we offer. We have taken steps to remove all items promoting the confederate flag from our assortment -- whether in our stores or on our web site," said Walmart spokesman Brian Nick. "We have a process in place to help lead us to the right decisions when it comes to the merchandise we sell. Still, at times, items make their way into our assortment improperly -- this is one of those instances."
A spokesperson for Amazon told CNN Tuesday afternoon that the company would also remove Confederate flag merchandise.
Johnna Hoff, an eBay spokesperson, said that the Confederate flag has "become a contemporary symbol of divisiveness and racism." It is banning the sale of Confederate flags and "many items containing this image," Hoff said.
RELATED: Nikki Haley calls for removal of Confederate flag
The three companies' statements came in response to a CNN inquiry Monday.
Sears Holdings Corporation, which operates Sears and Kmart, also said it would remove confederate flag merchandise sold by third-party vendors online. It does not currently sell confederate flags at its stores, Sears Holdings spokesman Chris Brathwaite told CNN.
As of Monday, Walmart.com carried the Confederate flag as well as attire featuring the flag's design, such as T-shirts and belt buckles, and the auction site eBay also carried the Confederate flag and accessories such as handbags and jewelry. Amazon.com list pages of Confederate flag-related products, ranging from the flag itself to folding knives, T-shirts, blankets and even shower curtains).
Sales of three versions of the flag were up 1,670% to 2,305% over a period of 24 hours, according to Amazon data. One of those flags, priced at $1.80 plus shipping, is currently the ninth best-selling item in the Patio, Lawn & Garden department and the top-selling item among all outdoor flags and banners sold on Amazon.
The long-running debate over displaying the Confederate flag on government buildings took a swift turn after last week's massacre in Charleston, which left nine African-Americans dead in their church. The shooter, 21-year-old Dylann Roof, has confessed to the murders and has said he wanted to instigate a "race war."
One widely circulated photo of the shooter holding a gun and a Confederate flag has stirred intense outrage. Critics of the flag quickly called on South Carolina to take down what is widely viewed as a symbol of racism.
Haley on Monday declared it was time to remove the flag from the capitol grounds.
"This flag, while an integral part of our past, does not represent the future of our great state," the second-term governor said, in an announcement that drew thunderous applause and cheers.
Haley was surrounded by many of the state's elected officials, including Republican Sens. Lindsey Graham and Tim Scott, Democratic Rep. Jim Clyburn and Republican Rep. Mark Sanford.
Many of the 2016 GOP presidential candidates and likely candidates -- including former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, former Texas Gov. Rick Perry and Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker -- voiced their support for Haley's decision following her speech.
