The U.S. Marine Corps ordered the removal of all Confederate flags on Marine installations. This also includes mugs, posters and bumper stickers and for displays to be removed in office buildings, conference rooms, and ready rooms.
What We Know:
- On Friday, the Marine Corps announced the banning and removal of all Confederate flags at Marine installations and have gone as far as banning mugs, posters, and bumper stickers. The banning came in April by Gen. David H. Berger, commandant of the Marine Corps, who says he is “mindful of the feelings of pain and rejection of those who inherited the cultural memory and present effects of the scourge of slavery in our country”.
- In the heat of the protests erupting over police brutality, officials have been pressured to remove the flags in signs of supporting racism. Gen. Berger said in a statement, “Current events are a stark reminder that it is not enough for us to remove symbols that cause division — rather, we also must strive to eliminate division itself”.
- Across the nation, many statues of Confederate leaders have been removed. Gov. Ralph Northam of Virginia plans to remove the statue of Robert E. Lee in Richmond and in Philadelphia, the statue of its former mayor, Frank Rizzo was also removed.
- In a statement on Twitter, the Marine Corps issued a statement saying, “This presents a threat to our core values, unit cohesion, security and good order and discipline. This must be addressed.”
Today, the Marine Corps released guidance on the removal of public displays of the Confederate battle flag.
MARADMIN 331/20: https://t.co/WLW4m70LW1 pic.twitter.com/TKoYJUL7Vo
— U.S. Marines (@USMC) June 6, 2020
It is not known when the directive will be carried out, but the U.S. Marine Corps asks for the support of the National Guard and other state law enforcements to join in the fight against racism and remove any symbols of Confederacy.
