California Bill Banning State Confederate Flag Sales Passes Assembly
SACRAMENTO (CBS / AP) -- California state government departments will be prohibited from selling or displaying items with an image of the Confederate flag under a bill that passed one house of the Legislature.
The Assembly approved AB2444 Monday on a 72-1 vote, with the only opposition coming from Republican gubernatorial candidate Tim Donnelly. He says the bill silences free speech.
Democratic Assemblyman Isadore Hall of Compton introduced the bill after his mother saw replica Confederate money being sold at the state Capitol gift shop. Hall calls Confederate images a symbol of racism and violence.
The bill originally banned all sales of Confederate flag memorabilia on state property. It was amended to exclude non-government employees and businesses to avoid violating constitutional free speech protections.
The bill does not apply to educational or historical displays.
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