DeLauro Statement on Confederate Flag Amendment

WASHINGTON, DC—Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) released the following statement today on House Republicans’ middle-of-the-night attempt to allow the Confederate flag to continue to be displayed at national parks and cemeteries:

“Within hours of the South Carolina House of Representatives overwhelmingly voting to remove the Confederate flag from their state capitol, House Republicans tried to undo Democratic amendments that would have barred the display of Confederate flags in federal cemeteries and barred the National Park Service from doing business with gift shops that sell Confederate flag merchandise. This is beyond the pale.

“Allowing this flag, which serves a symbol of hatred and a reminder of one of our country’s darkest periods of division, to be displayed or sold at our National Parks is simply unthinkable. Amazon, Wal-Mart, Sears and a host of other private national retailers have all pledged to stop selling Confederate flag merchandise, yet Republicans want the National Parks to be able to sell it.

“I am proud to stand with the victims and families of Charleston, and my Democratic colleagues, against the public display of this symbol of hate.”


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