Flag maker, large chains, online retailers withdrawing from Confederate flag

The nation’s leading retailers and a major flag making company have joined the march toward pulling the Confederate flag off shelves and websites.

The Valley Forge Flag Co., based in Wyomissing, Pennsylvania, whose products have accompanied soldiers into battle and astronauts to the moon, said Tuesday it will no longer manufacture the Confederate battle flag. Other manufacturers may follow suit.

The Pennsylvania flag company joins companies Walmart, Amazon, eBay, and Sears in banning the sale of flag merchandise, amid an intensifying national debate over the use of the controversial symbol that to some represents racism and to others Southern heritage.

The announcements are the latest indication the flag is becoming toxic in the aftermath of last week’s mass shooting at Charleston’s historic Emanuel AME Church.

Sears, eBay and Etsy said Tuesday that they would remove the merchandise from their websites. Sears does not sell the merchandise inside Sears or Kmart stores.

The wave of bans came a day after Wal-Mart Stores Inc. said that it would remove all Confederate-themed items from its store shelves and website after accused shooter of nine worshipers, Dylann Storm Roof, appeared in photos holding the flag.

EBay Inc., based in San Jose, California, said it will begin notifying sellers of its decision and begin removing items that contain the Confederate flag on Tuesday. A search for “Confederate flag” brought up 1,400 listings, including pins, watches, ties, hats and sunglasses with an image of the flag on it.

Other national retailers say they do not sell, or never have sold, Confederate items.

White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest, asked about the retailers pulling flags from stores, said those are “decisions for individual businesses to make.” He added that the businesses’ decisions were consistent with the president’s position.

This story was originally published June 23, 2015 at 6:16 PM.