Changes

In June 2015, a white supremacist with mental problems went into a black church and massacred several people inside. Although removing or banning the flag, like [[gun control]], would solve nothing and only be a short-term emotionalist solution, many people, particularly leftists, called for the flag's removal. That call, like gun control, was a knee-jerk reaction to ban something they dislike, using a terrible event to do so without carefully examining the full picture. They acted [[Hypocrites|hypocritically]] and tried to cast the blame on conservatives while blatantly distorting the true purpose of the flag.<ref>Hemingway, Mollie (June 23, 2015). [https://thefederalist.com/2015/06/23/congratulations-you-oppose-the-confederate-flag-now-what/ Congratulations! You Oppose The Confederate Flag. Now What?]. ''The Federalist''. Retrieved December 30, 2016.</ref><ref>French, David (June 19, 2015). [https://www.nationalreview.com/article/420060/ Don’t Tear Down the Confederate Battle Flag]. ''National Review''. Retrieved December 30, 2016.</ref>

In June 2015, a white supremacist with mental problems went into a black church and massacred several people inside. Although removing or banning the flag, like [[gun control]], would solve nothing and only be a short-term emotionalist solution, many people, particularly leftists, called for the flag's removal. That call, like gun control, was a knee-jerk reaction to ban something they dislike, using a terrible event to do so without carefully examining the full picture. They acted [[Hypocrites|hypocritically]] and tried to cast the blame on conservatives while blatantly distorting the true purpose of the flag.<ref>Hemingway, Mollie (June 23, 2015). [https://thefederalist.com/2015/06/23/congratulations-you-oppose-the-confederate-flag-now-what/ Congratulations! You Oppose The Confederate Flag. Now What?]. ''The Federalist''. Retrieved December 30, 2016.</ref><ref>French, David (June 19, 2015). [https://www.nationalreview.com/article/420060/ Don’t Tear Down the Confederate Battle Flag]. ''National Review''. Retrieved December 30, 2016.</ref>

Liberals frequently display [[Liberal intolerance|intolerance]] towards the Confederate flag. In one instance in an [[Illinois]] public school, a student was suspended for wearing a Confederate flag, even though the same school had a large homosexual rainbow flag hanging in a classroom.<ref>Prokop, Hannah (November 11, 2016). [http://www.nwherald.com/2016/11/09/prairie-ridge-high-school-suspends-student-for-wearing-confederate-flag-to-school/aelbmro/ Prairie Ridge High School suspends student for wearing Confederate flag to school]. ''Northwest Herald''. Retrieved March 24, 2017.</ref> In another instance, the flag was banned at a county fair in [[Wisconsin]] because a single person at the fair complained about it.<ref>Huston, Warner Todd (August 1, 2017). [https://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2017/08/01/wisconsin-county-fair-bans-confederate-flag-someone-got-feelings-hurt/ Wisconsin County Fair Bans Confederate Flag After ‘Someone Got Their Feelings Hurt’]. ''Breitbart News''. Retrieved August 1, 2017.</ref>

Liberals frequently display [[Liberal intolerance|intolerance]] towards the Confederate flag. In one instance in an [[Illinois]] public school, a student was suspended for wearing a Confederate flag, even though the same school had a large homosexual rainbow flag hanging in a classroom.<ref>Prokop, Hannah (November 11, 2016). [http://www.nwherald.com/2016/11/09/prairie-ridge-high-school-suspends-student-for-wearing-confederate-flag-to-school/aelbmro/ Prairie Ridge High School suspends student for wearing Confederate flag to school]. ''Northwest Herald''. Retrieved March 24, 2017.</ref> A Wyoming school also banned the Confederate flag while allowing the homosexual flag.<ref>[https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2019/apr/20/confederate-flags-not-rainbow-ones-banned-in-schoo/ Wyoming school district bans Confederate flags, allows gay-pride ones]. ''The Washington Times'' (from the ''Associated Press''). April 20, 2019. Retrieved April 20, 2019.</ref> In another instance, the flag was banned at a county fair in [[Wisconsin]] because a single person at the fair complained about it.<ref>Huston, Warner Todd (August 1, 2017). [https://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2017/08/01/wisconsin-county-fair-bans-confederate-flag-someone-got-feelings-hurt/ Wisconsin County Fair Bans Confederate Flag After ‘Someone Got Their Feelings Hurt’]. ''Breitbart News''. Retrieved August 1, 2017.</ref>

 

In April 2019, New Jersey's governor removed the Mississippi flag from a local park because of the latter's flag's Confederate symbolism.<ref>Byas, Steve (April 27, 2019). [https://www.thenewamerican.com/usnews/politics/item/32142-flag-flap-does-new-jersey-hate-mississippi Flag Flap: Does New Jersey Hate Mississippi?] ''The New American''. Retrieved April 29, 2019.</ref><ref>Daugherty, Owen (April 28, 2019). [https://thehill.com/homenews/state-watch/441065-new-jersey-removes-mississippi-flag-from-local-park-due-to-confederate New Jersey removes Mississippi flag from local park due to Confederate imagery]. ''The Hill''. Retrieved April 29, 2019.</ref>

The controversy over the Confederate flag is closely related to that over Confederate statues.<ref>Beavers, Olivia (June 11, 2017). [https://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/337328-armed-protesters-carrying-confederate-flags-defend-sam-houston Armed protesters carrying Confederate flags defend Sam Houston statue in Texas]. ''The Hill''. Retrieved June 11, 2017.</ref>

The controversy over the Confederate flag is closely related to that over Confederate statues.<ref>Beavers, Olivia (June 11, 2017). [https://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/337328-armed-protesters-carrying-confederate-flags-defend-sam-houston Armed protesters carrying Confederate flags defend Sam Houston statue in Texas]. ''The Hill''. Retrieved June 11, 2017.</ref>