NASCAR announced on Wednesday that the organization is banning fans’ use of the Confederate flag at all future events. The decision comes on the heels of civil unrest around the United States and a day after the report that the organization was considering placing a permanent ban on the flag at its races.
The statement in full:
NASCAR’s decision to ban the flag also came less than 24 hours after driver Bubba Wallace made it clear that he vehemently opposes fans’ use of the flag at events.
“My next step would be to get rid of all Confederate flags (at races),” Wallace said Monday night during an interview on CNN when asked about what NASCAR can do to battle racial injustice. “There should be no individual that is uncomfortable showing up to our events to have a good time with their family that feels some type of way about something they’ve seen, an object they have seen flying. “No one should feel uncomfortable when they come to a NASCAR race. So it starts with Confederate flags. Get them out of here. They have no place for them.”
Wallace is set to drive the No. 43 car adorned with a “#BlackLivesMatter” paint job for Wednesday night’s race at Martinsville Speedway.
NASCAR’s stance on banning the flag — notably associated with racism and prejudice — sent shockwaves through the sports world. Some fans on Twitter reacted adversly to the news.
