North Carolina exhibit: Confederate flag display at Great American State Fair ignites firestorm

[cbabe]

https://www.rawstory.com/confederate-flag-great-american-state-fair/

Confederate flag display at Great American State Fair ignites firestorm

A Confederate flag display at the Great American State Fair in Washington, D.C. was under fire on Friday, according to reports

The flag was part of an interactive exhibit for North Carolina and shared in a viral video shared on X by Reuben Jones, Spectrum News Washington Correspondent.

"I stopped by the North Carolina booth at the 'Great American State Fair' on the National Mall today. The state decided not to participate because of the high costs so the booth is sponsored by private orgs," Jones wrote.

His video panned around the room, showing multiple Confederate flags on television screens mounted to the display's walls.

… more … state says flag was ‘unapproved’ …

(So official state booth gave unofficial approval?)

[dem4decades]

1. It's the Great White American Fair?

[dweller]

2. That sounds like bs

It states NC did not participate.
Some private org is responsible for the flag .
Article should report the private org’s identity and credit them with the display .



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[cbabe]

3. Yes. Probably someone's cousin or bro-in-law raking in the bucks.

Also one got caught. Boycott starting in 1 - 2 - 3 …

“One of the booth sponsors, Mt. Olive Pickle Company, said it was ending its participation at the event. “

[dweller]

4. Private orgs

The primary private organizations and companies involved in the exhibit include:Lorie Khatod: A strategic consultant who volunteered to organize and coordinate the privately funded N.C. pavilion.
SPEVCO: A specialized manufacturing and custom-trailer company based in North Carolina that provided the custom exhibition trailer.
Richard Childress Racing (RCR): Provided an exhibit featuring the No. 3 NASCAR race car and racing simulators.
Operation Helo: A volunteer-driven disaster relief group from Cornelius, N.C., that provided display materials regarding their relief efforts.Note:
The Mt. Olive Pickle Company was initially a financial backer of the exhibit but officially severed all ties and withdrew its participation after an image of a Confederate flag appeared in a video inside the booth, which was subsequently condemned by state leaders.



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[cbabe]

5. Thanks. They should all apologize on bended knee like

Kaepernick on live tv.

[dweller]

6. Lorie Khatod

Was Rep Nancy Mace ‘s previous chief of staff (2023-24)

These private orgs all self appointed to rep NC at the fair

😑


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[CurtEastPoint]

13. I read about her...she's pretty much ME ME ME

[dweller]

14. Yep

Is from NC but doesn’t live here now .
Very repug


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[CurtEastPoint]

15. but isn't she PURDY and she LOVES HER SOME JEEBUS. I'm sure....

[yardwork]

8. If you've lost Mt. Olive Pickle Company...

That company is based in Deepest Red NC and has a long history of exploiting migrant and Black workers.

Also their products taste terrible.

[yardwork]

7. That is correct. NASCAR and other businesses funded this booth.

North Carolina declined to participate in this debacle. Our Democratic governor said no and our Republican state legislature refused to appropriate funds. It was a bipartisan rebuke.

So NASCAR and some other businesses stepped in to fund the booth. I am not surprised to hear that the booth features the Confederate flag.

[cbabe]

9. Implied consent by the state.

[yardwork]

10. Depends on what you mean by "the state."

Our liberal Democratic governor and his administration have nothing to do with this. The Republican-controlled state legislature refused to provide the funds required to participate.

It sounds like this weird state fair thing didn't require any official sign offs - literally anybody could show up and claim their state's booth.

(For the record, Republicans in NC are currently angry with the Trump administration for withholding FEMA funds to help areas devastated by hurricanes. Not coincidentally, those regions are Republican strongholds.)

[dweller]

11. From Josh Stein

BREAKING: Josh Stein Rips Trump's Fair Over Confederate Flag Stunt

North Carolina Governor Josh Stein is calling out Trump's Great American State Fair after the North Carolina pavilion was caught displaying the state flag altered with the Confederate "Southern Cross."

Stein's office did not hold back, saying the display does not reflect the North Carolina that people love and accusing organizers of glorifying a divisive symbol while pretending the fair is about unity.

His office demanded the organizers stop dishonoring the flag of North Carolina, full stop.

Historians backed him up immediately, confirming that North Carolina's flag has never once incorporated the Confederate battle flag in its 165 year history, which means the distortion was no accident.

The pressure worked fast. One of the booth's own corporate sponsors, Mt. Olive Pickle Company, pulled its support entirely once it saw what Stein was calling out.

North Carolina had already skipped sending an official delegation to Trump's fair in the first place, and this is exactly why.


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[struggle4progress]

12. NC opted out of the event. Then the GOP put up a dixie flag at the "NC exhibit."

It's the Great American Shitshow

[mitch96]

16. Do you want to really piss them off? Tell them this is the original "Rebel Flag"!!