Walmart is no longer displaying the Mississippi state flag in stores, a company spokesperson said Tuesday.
“Displaying state flags in our stores is a common practice nationwide. We know the design of the Mississippi state flag is being discussed by various stakeholders. While the issue continues to be discussed, we’ve made the decision to remove the Mississippi state flag from display in its current form from our stores,” Walmart spokesperson Anne Hatfield said in a statement.
She continued, “We believe it’s the right thing to do, and is consistent with Walmart’s position to not sell merchandise with the confederate flag from stores and online sites, as part of our commitment to provide a welcoming and inclusive experience for all of our customers in the communities we serve.”
»RELATED: Mississippi faces reckoning on Confederate emblem in flag
The news comes amid a renewed focus on the state’s flag, which includes the Confederate emblem. Across the country, protesters and activists are calling for the removal of statues of Confederate figures and, in multiple cases, people have taken action themselves, toppling statues in North Carolina, Alabama, Virginia, Washington, D.C., and elsewhere. In Georgia, a Confederate monument was removed from Decatur Square.
These statues have been taken down in the wake of national and global protests against police brutality and racism following the death of George Floyd. Floyd died while in police custody after a Minneapolis police officer kept his knee on Floyd’s neck for about eight minutes as Floyd said he could not breathe.
The Mississippi flag remains the only one in the country that still bears the Confederate emblem. Despite calls to change the flag, Republican Gov. Tate Reeves said earlier this month “it should be the people who make that decision, not some backroom deal by a bunch of politicians in Jackson.”
“When the people believe it’s time to change the flag is when the flag will be changed,” Reeves said last week.
On Tuesday, the Mississippi Baptist Convention denounced the state flag, the Mississippi Clarion Ledger reported.
“While some may see the current flag as a celebration of heritage, a significant portion of the state sees it as a relic of racism and a symbol of hatred,” said Shawn Parker, executive director and treasurer of the MBC. About 38% of the state’s population is Black.
“The racial overtones of the flag’s appearance make this discussion a moral issue. ... It is therefore apparent that the need to change the flag is a matter of discipleship for every follower of Jesus Christ,” he said.
The Mississippi Legislative Black Caucus also discussed the issue, calling for the flag to change, saying it is not unifying.
“We want one unifying flag that does not incorporate confederate symbols or connotations. Our constituents, student athletes and businesses deserve better,” MLBC Chair Angela Ford said in a statement, according to WLBT.
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