Places the Confederate flag still flies
The Confederate battle flag, always a controversial symbol, became an even more polarizing image after the Charleston church shooting in June 2015. Embraced by the alleged shooter as a symbol of white power, businesses all over the country began removing products with its likeness from their shelves... revealing just how pervasive the flag truly is.
For example, it's plastered on license plates across the South. Here, Edward Canuth of Douglasville, Georgia poses in front of his customized school bus with a rebel flag license plate and full Dale Earnhardt Jr. regalia at the Atlanta Motor Speedway.
Confederate flag - culture
The Confederate battle flag has become a sort of lifestyle for many Southerners; a representation of their heritage and culture. As such, it's grown increasingly prevalent on clothing and accessories, particularly at events that celebrate the South.
Here, a woman holds a beer at the 13th Annual Redneck Games in East Dublin, Georgia, decked out in her favorite Confederate Flag bathing suit.
Confederate flag - NCAA
The fact that, until recently, the Confederate flag flew over the state capitol grounds of South Carolina and Mississippi has led to consequences in the sports world. March Madness, for example, steered clear of those states for years, despite the fact that they're home to a number of top-rated teams. In 2014, that meant that the Lady Gamecocks - a No. 1 seed - marched to the Final Four on a difficult travel schedule with no home crowds.
Now that the flag has been removed from South Carolina's capitol grounds, the NCAA said it will resume holding championship events in the state. Since most championship-level events are scheduled years in advance, South Carolina may have to wait some time for things to change though.
Confederate flag - Dukes of Hazzard
The Confederate flag dominates the roof of "The General Lee," a 1969 Dodge Charger seen in this 2008 photo, from the TV series "The Dukes of Hazard."
In the aftermath of the shooting deaths at Emanuel AME Church, Warner Bros. Consumer Products announced that it would no longer license toys and model kits of the iconic car that sport the Confederate flag.
Bubba Watson's General Lee
On July 2, 2015, pro golfer Bubba Watson took to Twitter to announce that his General Lee is getting a paint job.
"All men ARE created equal, I believe that so I will be painting the American flag over the roof of the General Lee #USA," Watson said in the tweet.
Confederate flag still flying
A national debate over the continued use of the Confederate battle flag reignited June 20, 2015, after the U.S. and South Carolina state flags were both lowered to honor the victims of the Charleston church shooting, but the Confederate flag remained at full-staff on the grounds of South Carolina's state capitol. After weeks of heated discussion, the flag was officially removed on July 10. South Carolina wasn't alone in its continued use of the controversial symbol of white power, though.
Confederate flag - culture
Ronnie Mullis, dressed in a confederate flag overcoat, performs during the 11th annual Summer Redneck Games in Dublin, Georgia.
Started in 1996 as a spoof on the summer Olympics held in Atlanta, the games feature bobbing for pigs feet, hub cap hurling and the Redneck mud pit belly flop contest for trophies.
Confederate flag - Georgia
From 1956 to 2001, the Georgia State flag looked like this. More than half of it is quite literally a replica of the Confederate flag.
Confederate flag - Georgia
This is the way the Georgia State flag has looked since 2003. Its Confederacy references have definitely been toned down, but subtle nods to the rebel flag remain.
Specifically, the "stars and bars" of the first national flag of the Confederacy still appear in the upper left corner.
Confederate flag - clothing
Because country music is inextricably linked to the South, Confederate Flag clothing is often worn to these concerts as well.
Here, a man wears a Confederate flag jacket in front of Madison Square Garden in New York City, host to the 2005 Country Music Association awards.
Confederate flag - merchandise
In the aftermath of the Charleston shooting, Walmart announced that it would pull all Confederate flag merchandise (t-shirts, belt buckles, etc.) from its shelves.
"We have a process in place to help lead us to the right decisions when it comes to the merchandise we sell," Walmart spokesman Brian Nick told CNN on June 23, 2015. Still, at times, items make their way into our assortment improperly -- this is one of those instances."
Other major manufacturers - Amazon, Ebay, Walmart, Sears and Kmart - then followed suit with similar announcements.
Confederate flag - Alabama
The Alabama state flag bears the St. Andrew's cross... a remnant of the Confederate "battle flag."
Here, Don King, the boxing promoter for Eric Molina, holds up an Alabama state flag during a WBC heavyweight boxing news conference, in Birmingham, Alabama, June 11, 2015.
Confederate Flag still flying
While defenders of the Confederate flag maintain that it's a symbol of Southern pride and heritage, it is also undoubtedly a symbol of racism and hate.
Here, a member of the Ku Klux Klan displays a ring with the Confederate flag during the 11th Annual Nathan Bedford Forrest Birthday march in Pulaski, Tennessee, July 11, 2009.
Confederate flag - NASCAR
On June 23, 2015, NASCAR made the following statement:
"As we continue to mourn the tragic loss of life last week in Charleston, we join our nation's embrace of those impacted. NASCAR supports the position that South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley took on the Confederate Flag on Monday. As our industry works collectively to ensure that all fans are welcome at our races, NASCAR will continue our long-standing policy to disallow the use of the Confederate Flag symbol in any official NASCAR capacity. While NASCAR recognizes that freedom of expression is an inherent right of all citizens, we will continue to strive for an inclusive environment at our events."
Here, a Confederate flag flies during the NASCAR Nextel Cup Series Dodge Avenger 500at Darlington Raceway in South Carolina, May 13, 2007.
Confederate flag - The Citadel
The Citadel, South Carolina's famed military college, will remove the Confederate Naval Jack flag - a version of the Confederate flag - from its Summerall Chapel, the college's board announced on June 23, 2015.
The Citadel said the flag would be moved to another location on the school's campus.
In this photo, two Citadel cadets fold the Confederate flag after removing it from atop the dome of the South Carolina Statehouse in 2000.
Confederate flag - Mississippi
Since the Georgia flag was changed in 2003, Mississippi stands as the only state that still includes a full Confederate battle cross on its flag.
In fact, in a 2001 statewide referendum, Mississippians voted 2-to-1 to keep the Confederate emblem as a canton on their flag, despite its backward implications.
Confederate flag - Florida
The state flag of Florida, much like the state flag of Georgia, is dominated by the St. Andrew's Cross.
It was added to the flag at the suggestion of Governor Francis P. Fleming in the late 1890s. Fleming served in the Confederate Army during his youth, and many believe his intention was to memorialize it in his state's flag.
Here, a man carries the Florida state flag at the Republican National Convention, August 28, 2012.
NAACP ban lifted
On July 11, 2015, the day after South Carolina removed the Confederate flag from its state capitol grounds, the NAACP passed a resolution to lift its 15-year economic boycott of South Carolina.
The civil rights group approved the measure to end the boycott of tourism and other economic activity at its national convention in Philadelphia. The boycott began in 2000, after a debate ignited over the flying of the Confederate flag atop South Carolina's Statehouse dome. The boycott continued after it was moved to a flagpole on Statehouse grounds. The NCAA honored this ban.
Here, a South Carolina honor guard lowers the Confederate flag from the Statehouse grounds on July 10, 2015 in Columbia, South Carolina. Republican Governor Nikki Haley presided over the event after signing the historic legislation to remove the flag the day before.
Confederate flag - Ebay
On June 23, 2015, in response to a CBS News inquiry, eBay issued the following statement:
"eBay is a global marketplace and community and we continually monitor the approximately 800 million items on our site, and evaluate our policies to ensure they are consistent with our core purpose. We have decided to prohibit Confederate flags, and many items containing this image, because we believe it has become a contemporary symbol of divisiveness and racism. This decision is consistent with our long-standing policy that prohibits items that promote or glorify hatred, violence and racial intolerance."
Confederate flag - Amazon
Amazon also pledged to yank its broad range of Confederate flags and Confederacy-themed merchandise from its website.
As of June 23, 2015, however, Confederate flag sales at Amazon were up 2,305 percent.
Confederate flag - vanity plates
Like other states, Texas allows its drivers to buy customized vanity plates for a small fee. Most of these specialized designs feature college, charity or military imagery, and are easily approved. However, that was not the case when the Sons of Confederate Veterans proposed this license plate design in 2011.
The Texas Motor Vehicles Board rejected it, then the Sons of Confederate Veterans rejected that rejection. The case made its way all the way up to the Supreme Court, on the grounds of freedom of speech.
And last week in a 5-4 decision, the Justices ruled that Texas was within its rights to refuse to issue the personalized license plates showing the Confederate flag because license plates 'constitute government speech.' Now, on June 23, 2015, Virginia Governor Terry McAuliffe is calling for the Confederate flag to be yanked off Virginia vanity plates as well.
Confederate flag - vanity plates
Nine states - Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia - currently allow drivers to order vanity license plates bearing an image of the Confederate flag.
However, a growing number of governors from these states, including Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe, are announcing the discontinuation of the vanity plates.
In this 2002 photo, Brag Bowling, First Lieutenant Commander of The Sons Of Confederate Veterans, Virginia division, holds a sample Virginia license plate containing his organization's logo.
Confederate flag - culture
Controversy over the Confederate flag's presence on the South Carolina state capitol grounds is nothing new. In fact, in recent years, it has even influenced local political races.
Here, two-year-old Robert Hydrick holds a Confederate flag in front of a sign supporting the flag and opposing Charleston Mayor Joe Riley as the "Get in Step with the People of South Carolina" protest march against the flag progresses down South Carolina Highway 176 towards Columbia, April 5, 2000.
The march, led by Riley, protested the flying of the Confederate flag over the South Carolina statehouse.
In a 2000 political compromise, the flag was moved from the top of the Capitol to a Confederate monument in front of the statehouse. As part of the compromise, any other changes to the flag's location must be approved by two-thirds of both bodies of the legislature.
Confederate flag - NASCAR
And lest you think that last rebel flag at a NASCAR event was an isolated instance...
Here, a flag is trailed behind a plane prior to the NASCAR Nextel Cup Series Dodge Avenger 500 at Darlington Raceway, May 12, 2007.
University of South Carolina
Confederate flags were, for the most part, folded and put away after the Civil War. However, they slowly crept back into popular cultural over the next several decades; and by the mid-twentieth century, they were being waved at football games.
Here cheerleaders for the University of South Carolina Gamecocks football squad drape a Confederate flag around a New York chimney and announce their purpose in the North, September 26, 1958.
