National Parks Pull Confederate Flag Sales Items

Confederate Battle Flag sales items are being removed from national park bookstores and gift shops.

National Park Service Director Jonathan B. Jarvis said, quote,

We strive to tell the complete story of America. All sales items in parks are evaluated based on educational value and their connection to the park. Any stand-alone depictions of Confederate flags have no place in park stores.

Apple is the latest major merchant to remove the Confederate flag from its platform in light of the recent murders of nine church members at Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Charleston, South Carolina. The national discussion has revolved around the history of symbolism the Confederate Battle Flag carries. Jarvis went on to say, quote

As that discussion spread across the country, one of our largest cooperating associations, Eastern National, began to voluntarily remove from the park stores that it manages any items that depict a Confederate flag as its primary feature.  I’ve asked other cooperating associations, partners and concession providers to withdraw from sale items that solely depict a Confederate flag.

According to a press release from NPS,

In the telling of the historical story, Confederate flags have a place in books, exhibits, reenactments, and interpretive programs. Books, DVDs, and other educational and interpretive media where the Confederate flag image is depicted in its historical context may remain as sales items as long as the image cannot be physically detached.  Confederate flags include the Stainless Banner, the Third National Confederate Flag, and the Confederate Battle Flag.