Walmart, the country's largest retailer, will remove all Confederate flag merchandise from its stores, the company told CNN Monday.
The announcement is the latest indication that the flag, a symbol of the slave-holding South, has become toxic in the aftermath of a shooting last week at a historic African-American church in Charleston, South Carolina. Gov. Nikki Haley announced in a Monday afternoon news conference that she supports removing the Confederate flag from the state capitol grounds. Walmart.com currently carries the Confederate flag as well as attire featuring the flag's design, such as T-shirts and belt buckles. "We never want to offend anyone with the products that we offer. We have taken steps to remove all items promoting the confederate flag from our assortment -- whether in our stores or on our web site," said Walmart spokesman Brian Nick. "We have a process in place to help lead us to the right decisions when it comes to the merchandise we sell. Still, at times, items make their way into our assortment improperly -- this is one of those instances." RELATED: Nikki Haley calls for removal of Confederate flag Walmart's statement came in response to a CNN inquiry Monday. In addition to Walmart, CNN asked Amazon and eBay whether they would remove Confederate flag merchandise from their sites. Neither company responded to repeated requests for comment. The long-running debate over displaying the Confederate flag on government buildings took a swift turn after last week's massacre in Charleston, which left nine African-Americans dead in their church. The shooter, 21-year-old Dylann Roof, has confessed to the murders and has said he wanted to instigate a "race war." One widely circulated photo of the shooter holding a gun and a Confederate flag has stirred intense outrage. Critics of the flag quickly called on South Carolina to take down what is widely viewed as a symbol of racism. Amazon.com lists pages of Confederate flag-related merchandise, ranging from the flag itself to folding knives, T-shirts, blankets and even shower curtains. eBay also carries the Confederate flag and accessories such as handbags and jewelry. The online auction site's "offensive material policy" bans the sale of items that "promote hatred or racial supremacy including historic and current items." Haley on Monday declared it was time to remove the flag from the capitol grounds. "This flag, while an integral part of our past, does not represent the future of our great state," the second-term governor said, in an announcement that drew thunderous applause and cheers. Haley was surrounded by many of the state's elected officials, including Republican Sens. Lindsey Graham and Tim Scott, Democratic Rep. Jim Clyburn and Republican Rep. Mark Sanford. Many of the 2016 GOP presidential candidates and likely candidates -- including former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, former Texas Gov. Rick Perry and Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker -- voiced their support for Haley's decision following her speech. SOMETHING IS JUST NOT RIGHT ABOUT THIS.. PLEASE HELP EXPLAIN...(LIL B) : HEY BRUCE LETS TRY SOMETHING NEW... (bRUCE JENNER) : OK
Mullen said he had no reason to think the suspect has left the Charleston area, but was distributing information about him and the vehicle around the country.
Mullen said the scene at the church was chaotic when police arrived, and the officers thought they had the suspect tracked with a police dog, but he got away. "We will put all effort, we will put all resources and we will put all of our energy into finding this individual who committed this crime tonight," he said. The FBI will aid the investigation, Mullen told an earlier news conference that was attended by FBI Special Agent in Charge David A. Thomas. Charleston Mayor Joseph P. Riley Jr. called the shooting "an unfathomable and unspeakable act by somebody filled with hate and with a deranged mind." "Of all cities, in Charleston, to have a horrible hateful person go into the church and kill people there to pray and worship with each other is something that is beyond any comprehension and is not explained," Riley said. "We are going to put our arms around that church and that church family." State House Minority leader Todd Rutherford told The Associated Press that the church's pastor, state Sen. Clementa Pinckney, was among those killed. Pinckney 41, was a married father of two who was elected to the state house at age 23, making him the youngest member of the House at the time. "He never had anything bad to say about anybody, even when I thought he should," Rutherford, D-Columbia, said. "He was always out doing work either for his parishioners or his constituents. He touched everybody." In a statement, NAACP President and CEO Cornell William Brooks condemned the shooting. "There is no greater coward than a criminal who enters a house of God and slaughters innocent people engaged in the study of scripture," Brooks said. The attack came two months after the fatal shooting of an unarmed black man, Walter Scott, by a white police officer in neighboring North Charleston that sparked major protests and highlighted racial tensions in the area. The officer has been charged with murder, and the shooting prompted South Carolina lawmakers to push through a bill helping all police agencies in the state get body cameras. Pinckney was a sponsor of that bill. In a statement, Gov. Nikki Haley asked South Carolinians to pray for the victims and their families and decried violence at religious institutions. "We'll never understand what motivates anyone to enter one of our places of worship and take the life of another," Haley said. Soon after Wednesday night's shooting, a group of pastors huddled together praying in a circle across the street. Community organizer Christopher Cason said he felt certain the shootings were racially motivated. "I am very tired of people telling me that I don't have the right to be angry," Cason said. "I am very angry right now." Even before Scott's shooting in April, Cason said he had been part of a group meeting with police and local leaders to try to shore up relations. The Emmanuel AME church is a historic African-American church that traces its roots to 1816, when several churches split from Charleston's Methodist Episcopal church. One of its founders, Denmark Vesey, tried to organize a slave revolt in 1822. He was caught, and white landowners had his church burned in revenge. Parishioners worshipped underground until after the Civil War. there is any doubt that LeBron James is the best player in the NBA right now, then the rest of the season may erase that notion. Otherwise, most of us can agree that he is dominating the league. Various factors have contributed to his success as a player, but certain characteristics have propelled him to being the best. LeBron James has evolved, and that evolution has cast his name among the greats. For now, LeBron James is the créme de la créme. Few have contested him. While the definition of "best" is entirely subjective, for the most part, LeBron James is considered to be the best right now. LeBron James is right at the peak of his career. And that's the scary part. He is just at the tipping point, which means he can get better. This could be trouble for opponents. LeBron is currently the most efficient he has ever been. He is averaging 27.3 points per game this season and has scored at least 30 points in the past seven games. The only person to obtain a longer streak this season is Kobe Bryant (10 consecutive games). He is faring better against defenses, striking whether they back off of him or not. He's lethal when he needs to be and appears to be unstoppable. What sets him apart from Bryant is that LeBron is only 28, and there's so much more basketball for him to play. It seems ludicrous to think that he could improve his game, but with the way his career is going, it can only go up from here. People were outraged that LeBron would abandon the Cleveland Cavaliers when they needed him the most. It seemed as if it was all for personal gain. And it was. Fast-forward to the present, however, and you can't help but believe that LeBron made the right choice. What may be different for him now is that he is not only playing for himself, but he's also playing for his team. When the Miami Heat first started out with the trio of James, Dwayne Wade and Chris Bosh, it was rough. Many believed that LeBron wasn't going to be getting his ring any time soon. However, LeBron took on a whole new perspective, and began to utilize the other players for the benefit of a team victory. Since then, LeBron has developed in ways you could only dream of and has acquired the elusive championship ring he had wanted for so long. He has made his teammates better. Miami is on the road for another ring, and LeBron's "for-the-team" attitude has been the largest contributor. LeBron James is on a hot streak right now, and he's got the numbers to prove it. The numbers don't necessarily make the player, but in LeBron's case, it is telling of just how great he is. In just the past five games alone, he averaged 32.6 points, 7.2 rebounds, 6.2 assists and a .663 field-goal percentage. This kind of productivity is rare, and James is forcing doubters to pay attention. In the past seven games, he scored 224 points, yet he only took 116 shots. This is evidence of James' maturity as a player; when he takes a shot, he's confident in it. The hesitation is gone. Since he made the move to Miami, LeBron has improved every season in nearly every category. The numbers don't lie, and James' numbers point to greatness. So far, no one has been able to contest LeBron. This is part of what makes him the best player: No one can stop him. He's shutting down defensive efforts game after game. You would think that someone would have figured him out by now. Not yet. LeBron shows no signs of slowing down or stopping. He's on a mission, and no one is going to stand in his way. Using his size and skill, he defeats any chance of challenging his shot. He's tough to defend down low, and with his efficiency, he's nearly invincible. Perhaps the only person that can stop him is LeBron himself. Long gone are the days of LeBron throwing up powder at the beginning of each game. Instead, LeBron has quietly matured into a player that respects the game for what it is. He is no longer concerned with the superstar status and undying attention. LeBron is simply playing to win and playing to be the best. This has made him the excellent player he is today. Focus and determination have brought LeBron full circle. He has taken a step back from the celebrity and walked right into the essence of the game. With time and age, LeBron has shaped himself into a player that is more concerned with leading his team to victory rather than fattening his bank account. LeBron wants to win, and his maturity has led him to do just that. LeBron James seems to have it all. He's at a pivotal point in his career, he's playing team basketball and he's got the stats. What more can you ask for from a player? Championships. The debates and comparisons continue as LeBron attempts to cement his name in NBA glory. While he believes that rings don't define the player, he knows that it will take more than one occupied finger to finally hush the doubters and write his name alongside the elite. For now, though, he's the best. Ten years down the road, it could be someone different. That's the beauty of the game. You never know what you're going to get. THAT'S WHYOFF AND ON AS EVER, (THE SUMMER PRESENTS) BAD RELATIONSHIPS... LOL ... BUT REALLY NOT FUNNY..THE SUMMER SEEMS TO NEVER FAIL... BROKEN HEARTS AND PLENTY OF TEARS... & THAT'S THAT SHIT I DON'T LIKE... AND DON'T LET ME FORGET PROMISES THAT NEVER SEEM TO BE KEPT... WE ALL EXPERIENCE THEM, SO DON'T ACT LIKE YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT I'AM TALKING ABOUT, THE "BABY ILL BE BY YOUR SIDE BUNCH OF BULL SH#T", AND DON'T YOU HATE WHEN ITS SO HARD TO GET HER OR HIM OFF YOUR BRAIN, THAT MOMENT WHEN DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND THAT SONG THAT REMIND YOU OF HER OR HIM SEEMS TO HAVE THE ONLY SPOT ON THE RADIO STATION LOL... AND WHEN GOING TO SLEEP (ZZZ) THE ONLY THING YOU CAN DO IS TOSS AND TURN AND LOOK OVER IN THE DARK HOPING TO GET A TEXT MESSAGE OR CALL AND EVEN A FACE TIME IF YOU’RE TEAM I PHONE BUT THAT'S BESIDE THE POINT. HAHAHAHHAHAHA. EVEN ONE TIME YOU THOUGHT THAT IT WOULD LAST FOREVER AND YOU WOULD FLY AWAY INTO THE SKY AND LIVE HAPPILY EVER AFTER BUT THE ROAD RAN SHORT AND YOUR SO SICK OF LOVE SONGS. IT’S OK BECAUSE IT’S PERFECTLY NORMAL AND EVERYONE GOES THROUGH THESE TYPES OF THINGS... WHAT YOU MUST NOT DO IS FALL IN A TANK. YOU MUST CONTINUE AND WORK ON YOURSELF BECAUSE ALL THINGS HAPPEN FOR A REASON... I WAS ONCE ASK, "WAS I HAPPY AND DID I ENJOY THE TIMES?" BY MY FATHER... SO I RESPONDED "YES"... SO HE SAID DUMB ASS, AREN'T YOU GLAD YOU GOT TO EXPERIENCE THAT, AND IT MADE SO MUCH SINCE BUT DEEP DOWN INSIDE IT STILL BOTHERED ME BUT THE WISDOM FINALLY SHOWED ITS WORTH... I LEARNED THAT SOMETIMES IT IS BETTER TO ENJOY THE EXPERIENCE THAN TO STORE IT AND TAKE IT WITH YOU... THAT BEING SAID, THERE IS A SONG AND IT GOES LIKE THIS... (I DON'T WANT TO GO, BUT I GOT TO GO RIGHT NOW)....
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LIVE AND BACK, MORE LIVING THAN COLOR... ITS RAW TOPICS AND SORRY FOR THE WAIT!!NEVER TO NEGLECT BUT MY PRIMARY OCCUPATION HAD ME A LITTLE BIT TIED UP, BUT I'AM BACK AND READY TO DELIVER THE JUICE.. BEING THAT THIS IS A NEW YEAR I WILL BE GIVING THINGS RAW AND UNCUT AS EVER FEEL FREE TO COMMENT AND LEAVE YOU RAW OPINIONS.. I HOPE YOU GUYS BEING ENJOYING THE OTHERS BECAUSE I'AM BACK TO TAKE OVER...
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