Retailers remove Confederate flag merchandise

A white racist, who was reportedly looking to start a race war when he gunned down nine members of the historic Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Charleston, SC, has achieved an unintended consequence — the removal of Confederate flag merchandise from retail stores and websites including those operated by Sears Holdings and Walmart.

"We have taken steps to remove all items promoting the Confederate flag from our assortment — whether in our stores or on our website," Walmart spokesperson Brian Nick told CNN. "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."

While Sears and Walmart have pulled the controversial merchandise, other retailers still offer belt buckles, clothing, flags and other apparel bearing the Confederate symbol. An online check last night found numerous sites and marketplaces selling Confederate flag-themed merchandise including Amazon.com, Café Press, Drysdales, eBay and Sheplers.

Stop the Hate t-shirt

Source: cafepress.com

The Café Press site, which featured a number of items with the flag, also included an anti-rebel shirt that included the flag’s image with a circle and a line through it. The shirt includes the message, "Stop the hate."

BrainTrust

"How should they handle it? Let’s see ... how about: "Just do it." It’s not like I think this will stop crimes like the one perpetrated in Charleston, after all, no one is selling swastika-themed product and anti-Semitic crimes still happen. But you know, it’s a good start."

Paula Rosenblum

Co-founder, RSR Research


"As a "northerner" of white skin color (i.e. identified as Caucasian), I didn’t realize that the Confederate flag and paraphernalia had such ramifications. Was it the flag that emboldened and permitted the perpetrator to do the crime? So in that respect, was the flag was a trigger?"

Naomi K. Shapiro

Strategic Market Communications, Upstream Commerce


Discussion Questions

How should retailers handle removing Confederate flag merchandise from their stores and websites?

Poll

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Max Goldberg
Max Goldberg
8 years ago

It’s about time. Other merchandise with hateful symbols has been pulled from store shelves and websites, why should Confederate flag merchandise be an exception? Walmart has just given every retailer in the country the cover it needs to implement this long-overdue change.

Bob Phibbs
Bob Phibbs
8 years ago

Simply remove it. No explanation required.

Roger Saunders
Roger Saunders
8 years ago

Just because an elected official from the highest office in the land purposely and foolishly used a denigrating racial term of the past on radio, there is little need for a national retailer to make use of Confederate flag merchandise within their stores.

Freedom of speech is important within a free society and central to our Bill of Rights. In the process of defending the right of free speech, we will have foolish people who exploit both words and merchandise. When those individuals or retailers throw out the bait, they should well expect that they are the ones that will be snagged on the hook.

Paula Rosenblum
Paula Rosenblum
8 years ago

How should they handle it? Let’s see … how about: “Just do it.”

It’s not like I think this will stop crimes like the one perpetrated in Charleston, after all, no one is selling swastika-themed product and anti-Semitic crimes still happen. But you know, it’s a good start.

Our society is a complicated and somewhat messed up one. Fixing it is going to be a long-term project that requires commitment on all sides. I’m not sure we’re there yet. Still, every small step matters.

Ian Percy
Ian Percy
8 years ago

I’m sure I’m being overly simplistic, but why is removing offensive products from store shelves a complicated thing? Just do it.

The thing is you can’t, with any level of morality, give this stuff (clothing particularly) to charities, impoverished countries, etc. You’d just be passing the negative energy around. Some Presidential hopefuls who’ve been given money by that white supremacy group plan to send it to the Mother Emanuel church. Really? Do you think they’d actually want it? Makes me queasy thinking about it.

Get it off the shelves, call waste management, and be done with it.

David Biernbaum
David Biernbaum
8 years ago

Walmart and other retailers are making the correct business decision to avoid selling products or merchandise with the Confederate flag.

I have heard many explanations and justifications for flying, flaunting or displaying the Confederate flag, and yet deep down I believe that in the year 2015 it’s just an in-your-face way to infer hate, bigotry and exclusion.

Times change, the meaning and inference has changed, and the flag is disturbing to many people, especially, and understandably, African-Americans. These flags and symbols should not be used in this day and age by government and institutions. The flag belongs in history museums.

Zel Bianco
Zel Bianco
8 years ago

On CafePress’s Content Usage Policy page they ban a variety of words and symbols for being offensive and then include this remark:

“AN IMPORTANT NOTE ABOUT TOLERANCE IN A DIVERSE WORLD: CafePress has millions of users, from varied backgrounds and cultures, who differ in their beliefs and views about what is considered acceptable and what is considered offensive. We recognize that along with such diversity comes differences which may result in some individuals being offended by the opinions, perspectives and creative expressions of others within our user group. We ask that you exercise tolerance, and respect each individual’s right to express him- or herself in a manner consistent with this CUP, even if you personally find particular Images offensive and/or unacceptable.”

I suppose this is why Confederate flags are still posted on the site — because of the belief held by some that, despite their association with slavery and racist beliefs, the flag now merely stands for southern pride. The problem is, no matter how a word or symbol is intended, it is the perceived meaning that matters. While a young adult may use the word “retard” or “gay” inaccurately but without malicious intent, they still need to be taught that what they say and do has meaning and will color the way others view them.

Retailers know that what they sell reflects back on them — they simply need to decide how they want to be perceived by shoppers. It’s certainly time for retailers to look at any merchandise with the Confederate flag and decide if they want to be the people who take a stand or if they want to be the ones caught saying “Well, I didn’t mean it like THAT.”

Jerry Gelsomino
Jerry Gelsomino
8 years ago

The Confederate flag was and still is a symbol of opposition to the values of America. Couldn’t anyone who sells such merchandise be found guilty of the same crime as desecrating the American flag? Flags were created so that people who are like-minded in their belief could gather under them. I admit, it used to be fashionable to wear the Confederate flag in the days of rebellious youth, but now it is sadly evident that there are individuals who really believe the Confederate principles were right. The flag and its symbolism should be put in a museum so that future generations can reflect on history. Let’s continue to mourn the loss of life during the Civil War, but let’s finally bury the causes that brought about the conflict.

Dick Seesel
Dick Seesel
8 years ago

Dumb question: Why would Sears, Walmart or anybody else think selling this product was a good idea in the first place? (I know … There’s a market for it.)

Kevin Graff
Kevin Graff
8 years ago

What took so long? That’s the question.

Liz Crawford
Liz Crawford
8 years ago

FINALLY.

I’m only sorry that it took a tragedy to finally get retailers to understand that this flag is often used as a form of hate speech. Sure it’s historical. Sure it also symbolizes southern pride — for some. But at the end of the day there is more harm than good in it. In any event, it is not a symbol of peace. Take it down.

Tom Redd
Tom Redd
8 years ago

OK, retailers can do what must be done to avoid the noise. The flag is part of a sad time in our history. Our history does not change, only how we remember it. The flag had nothing at all to do with the terrible events in South Carolina. It represented an old belief in old times. Next we will cut the British flag.

ABC, NBC, and CBS will decide what to do next based on some upcoming chaos that gains them viewers.

Fortunately, retail is already a nutty business so most of us can relate to the nutty new dominance and whacked country we have become.

Randy Dungate
Randy Dungate
8 years ago

Simply remove the merchandise. No explanation needed.

Phil Rubin
Phil Rubin
8 years ago

Sadly, it is the obvious thing to do, and at least something positive has come from what happened last week in Charleston.

Naomi K. Shapiro
Naomi K. Shapiro
8 years ago

As a “northerner” of white skin color (i.e. identified as Caucasian), I didn’t realize that the Confederate flag and paraphernalia had such ramifications. Was it the flag that emboldened and permitted the perpetrator to do the crime? So in that respect, was the flag was a trigger? (This is similar to research done by a psychology professor Leonard Berkowitz at the University of Wisconsin a number of years ago — Does the trigger make the person shoot the gun, i.e. does the finger pull the trigger or does the trigger pull the finger?)

Where does it all begin and end? I am offended and scared by Nazi paraphernalia and propaganda (and followers), and have experienced anti-Semitism (and ignorance) by both educated and uneducated people, so who decides what merchandise will pull the trigger, so to speak and what merchandise, such as British flag or Terrorist flag, should be allowed to be sold?

Daryle Hier
Daryle Hier
8 years ago

Not sure why this has to be such a national scene, but I think Walmart probably did the wise thing. Every business should be able to keep or discard any item they wish to sell or not, as long as governments don’t come in to do it.

My concern is the PC craze has gone way overboard as anything offensive to anybody is immediately deemed “hate.” That’s a big-time slippery slope.

Mark Burr
Mark Burr
8 years ago

Celebrations have occurred all over the states involved in the Civil War on the 150th anniversary of its end in 1865. So, is the question – too soon?

As recently as 2011, Pew Research found that over 60% of Americans felt neither positively or negatively towards the Confederate flag.

One hundred and fifty years later, it was okay for the largest retailer in the world and many others to sell it on June 17, 2015, but overwhelmingly not okay to sell it on June 19, 2015?

In the same poll in 2011, just 15% of Americans felt strongly negative towards the Confederate flag after 146 years. It is also worth noting that in the United States, African American population represents 12% of the total population. Keep in mind that is three years into a first black American’s presidency elected by a plurality including all races.

So, what’s the point? In 146 years based on this poll there was no impact one way or the other to most Americans. Yet, in 48 hours, what didn’t exist in the minds of most Americans for 150 years is suddenly completely different?

Walmart and other retailers may be making the right decision, yet one that should come without fanfare for sure or for political and image expediency.

Quite frankly, it is time for all of us to check our hearts. Maybe Reba McEntire has it about right “Who can see you’re lost inside a foolish disguise
The heart won’t lie. “

James Tenser
James Tenser
8 years ago

Symbols are not actions, yet some are imbued with the power to influence or even justify them. This is why the Confederate flag had to go from the South Carolina statehouse and retail shelves.

This is not an instance of over-the-top political correctness. Benign aspects of regional heritage are overwhelmed by the racist meaning associated with this flag. Its rightful place now is in museums, alongside other exhibits which document humans’ inhumanity to other humans.

Kolten Carpenter
Kolten Carpenter
8 years ago

Removing Confederate flag merchandise is not the right thing to do because it just reinforces the flag as a symbol of intollerance and that is not what the flag represents… but it is the most politically correct thing to do.

George Anderson
George Anderson
8 years ago

Editor’s Note: eBay has issued a statement that it is banning the sale of items containing the image of the Confederate flag on its site. The reason given is that the company believes the flag has become a “symbol of divisiveness and racism” in society today.

Li McClelland
Li McClelland
8 years ago

Removing the confederate battle flag from government buildings and government property? Yes. It’s about time.

Retailers (especially resellers like eBay) making knee-jerk decisions about what their customers can sell or what can be bought for private use after a nutcase shocks us to the core? No. This decision to censor legal merchandise is not well thought out at all for citizens or for retailers living and operating in what is supposed to be in a free society.

Cathy Hotka
Cathy Hotka
8 years ago

Finally. It’s thrilling to watch this finally happen.

Gordon Arnold
Gordon Arnold
8 years ago

This is a country educated to react to inanimate objects, color, shapes and identities. Hate and opinions or should we say fear and ignorance have smothered our society with too many useless laws that only serve the politicians and lawmakers promising to find solutions for the problems we seemingly tolerate over and over again. The simple fact is that murder, rape, molestation, assault, and any other action forced on the innocent is endured for the right of any individual guilty of these actions in order to perpetuate and grow the need for more useless laws that can never protect us from harm.

We may burn all of the flags and bandanas, remove graffiti and tattoos we wish too along with any and all inanimate objects used to assist or elevate the actions against one another, but until we associate the criminal with the crimes peace and order will never prevail. I support the removal of the criminals within our society along with whatever identifiers used to rally support for their crimes as soon as possible and as humanly as is practical to end the crimes forever.

George Anderson
George Anderson
8 years ago

Editor’s note: Others pulling confederate flag merchandise include Amazon.com, Etsy, Google Shopping and Valley Forge Flag.