Walmart no longer displaying Mississippi flag in stores

Walmart will no longer display the Mississippi state flag “in its current form” at its stores, a company spokesperson told The Hill Tuesday.

Walmart spokesman Lorenzo Lopez said the retail company decided to remove the Mississippi state flag, which includes the Confederate emblem. 

“We know the design of the Mississippi state flag is being discussed by various stakeholders,” Lopez said in a statement. “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.

“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,” Lopez continued.

Walmart spokesperson Anne Hatfield told Memphis newspaper Commercial Appeal that the Mississippi state flags were removed “a couple of weeks ago.” 

Calls for changes to the Mississippi state flag come as protests requesting racial justice have erupted across the country after George Floyd’s death in Minneapolis police custody. 

Demonstrators across the U.S. have also asked for statues dedicated to Confederate leaders to be taken down, with some protesters taking matters into their own hands by toppling or defacing the memorials.

The Mississippi flag is the only state left that includes the Confederate emblem, which includes a blue “X” with thirteen white stars.

The Mississippi Baptist Convention also requested a modification of the flag, with its executive director and treasurer calling it a “relic of racism and a symbol of hatred,” the Clarion Ledger reported. 

The NCAA Board of Governors and Southeastern Conference Commissioner Greg Sankey said the SEC may not hold championship events in the state until the flag is changed.