Images online show the suspect holding the Confederate flag.
"We have a process in place to help lead us to the right decisions when it comes to the merchandise we sell", Brian Nick, a Walmart spokesman said in a statement.
A Google search for Confederate flags pulled up several listings and sponsored ads promoting the flags.
Braverman says all flag retailers in Canada sold it back then, and it was a logical business decision.
"This action is probably long overdue, but the retailers' actions are probably going to be received positively", he said. "This is America. Everybody has a right to be represented whether you are a history buff or a nut".
While lawmakers in South Carolina are facing growing pressure, some politicians in Mississippi want to see change. Those still looking to purchase one need not go far.
McAlister said the true meaning of the flag is to honor the heritage and namesake of the Confederate veteran. "It became clear to me that the flag was being purchased for something other than historical purposes that we had previously sold it".
Gardiner’s store isn’t alone.
"By amending the sine die resolution, it's very tightly construed to talk about the confederate flag and the monument that is out front so it will allow both the Senate and the House to come back in session at a later time to debate that issue", said Representative Gary Simrill, who represents York County. The company didn’t respond to requests from the Herald for comment.
Small stores are seeing a spike in orders just in the last couple of days, even as big box retailers Walmart (WMT), Sears (SHLD) and eBay (EBAY, Tech30) are vowing to stop selling the stuff.
There were more than 500 flags used by the Confederacy during the Civil War, according to Russell.
Also known as the "Southern Cross" or the "Dixie flag", the flag was originally adopted by the Army of Northern Virginia led by General Robert E. Lee.
"We don’t condone nor will we support hatred, racism, slavery, fear, anger death, anything like that, says Susan Braverman, President of The Flag Shop".
As yet, NASCAR has taken no public steps towards encouraging tracks on which it competes to ban race fans from bringing Confederate flags onto track property, however. Similarly to the confederate flag being raised in South Carolina, Georgia added the rebel flag to its official state flag in 1956 during the height of racial integration and just two years after the historic Brown v. Board of Education decision.
The website, which carries thousands of items bearing the flag, including clothing, will immediately ban new listings of merchandise and tell sellers of such merchandise that they have to stop.
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