By Kurtis Doering

UPDATE: Saskatoon flag shop pulls Confederate flag from display

Jun 23, 2015 | 8:03 AM

In the wake of a massacre which left nine people dead in a South Carolina church, Saskatoon Flag Shop owner Judy Denham has pulled her Confederate flags from display.

“From a personal level, I wanted to pull the Confederate flag from the shelves out of respect,” Denham said Monday. “I wanted to acknowledge what’s happened, and remove it from the view. Can’t do anything about the history that’s gone on in the States, but we don’t have to promote it.”

The flag is a contentious symbol in the United States; some view it as a piece of history and a symbol of southern pride, while others see a reminder of black subjugation.

Some, like alleged Charleston shooter Dylann Roof, have adopted the Confederate flag as a symbol of racial hatred. South Carolina governor Nikki Haley cited this as one of the reasons the flag should be removed from the grounds of the legislature.

Denham said her customers in Saskatoon don’t seem to have the same connections to the flag as our neighbours to the south.

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“It’s a fairly popular flag among the younger generation,” she said, “but I think they see it more as a fun novelty flag; Dukes of Hazard… they like to put it on their motorcycles or ATVs or their trucks.”

As the owner of a franchise, Denham can only remove the Confederate flag from view. The decision to stop selling it entirely lies with head office in Vancouver.

“It may be something that I have to sell,” she said, “and therefore, I will sell it out of a box out of the back.”

News Talk contacted The Flag Shop owner and president Susan Braverman, who issued the following statement:

“The Flag Shop absolutely does not endorse the sale of racist symbols, and we have been paying very close attention to the media for the past couple of weeks. We are committed to doing the right thing but we need to make an informed decision.

“The Confederate flag is not the first flag that has been used by some groups for racists purposes. It has, however, a historical background and so it’s important that we not react hastily.
 
“I support Judy’s decision to remove the flag from her store display, and we have done the same in our store in Vancouver. But removing flags from display is the easy part of the decision-making process. The decision to remove them from our product line altogether and stop carrying a product that we have been selling since 1975 is the more serious question for me.

“And since we have 13 stores across Canada, although I am the franchisor and can make a unilateral decision about removing the Confederate flag from our product line, that’s not how I operate. 

“So after Canada Day and FIFA Women’s Cup, my franchises will be less busy, which will give me time to get their feedback about continuing to carry the Confederate flag or dropping it from our product line.”

Late Monday, the Flag Shop ordered all 13 of its Canadian stores to remove the Confederate flag from their shelves. Production of new Confederate flags and online orders have also stopped.

panews@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @KDnewsguy