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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsNorth Carolina exhibit: Confederate flag display at Great American State Fair ignites firestorm
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
(14,737 posts)dweller
(29,026 posts)It states NC did not participate.
Some private org is responsible for the flag .
Article should report the private orgs identity and credit them with the display .
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cbabe
(7,051 posts)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.
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
(7,051 posts)Kaepernick on live tv.
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
(20,159 posts)Is from NC but doesnt live here now .
Very repug
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CurtEastPoint
(20,159 posts)
yardwork
(70,162 posts)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
(70,162 posts)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
(7,051 posts)yardwork
(70,162 posts)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
(29,026 posts)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
(127,352 posts)It's the Great American Shitshow
mitch96
(15,920 posts)
LetMyPeopleVote
(184,540 posts)The president is looking for public gratitude in the wake of failure. He is likely to wait a long while.
Itâs a problem that Trumpâs âGreat American State Fairâ is an embarrassing flop.
— Steve Benen (@stevebenen.com) 2026-06-30T20:15:06.252Z
Watching him ask people to âappreciateâ his failure, however, makes the problem worse.
www.ms.now/rachel-maddo...
https://www.ms.now/rachel-maddow-show/maddowblog/great-american-state-fair-2026-trump-flop
In the days that followed, the troubles intensified. NOTUS reported:
The 110-foot-tall Ferris wheel, a main attraction at the Great American State Fair for the countrys 250th anniversary, shut down for a couple of hours due to lack of power. The ice cream melted, but Iowas butter cow survived. And a display of the Confederate flag was removed from North Carolinas booth after Gov. Josh Stein condemned the vendor for putting it up.[/blockquote]
The same report referred to power outages and almost-empty or understaffed booths before adding, Rodeos and baby farm animals drew crowds but the fair appeared sparsely attended; there were no lines to get in, the lawn was fairly void of people and entertainers outnumbered guests at points.
....Fox News has done its part to try to promote the gathering, even broadcasting live from the fair, but that apparently hasnt helped. Its easy to see the absence of attendees behind the on-air hosts and guests.Every Fox News live shot today from Trump's post-rapture-like fair on the National Mall has been hilarious. Here's a supercut:
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar.com) 2026-06-29T21:12:57.959Z
And did I mention that the event features a poorly made replica of the triumphal arch that Trump is so excited about? Because thats an issue, too.Everyone is talking about Trumpâs mock up arch at the Great American State Fair, so I filmed it from top to bottom and front to back for everyone who canât see it in person.
— amanda moore ð¢ (@noturtlesoup17.bsky.social) 2026-06-28T21:11:48.282Z
.....But its not quite that simple. For one thing, hes the one who helped turned the event into a partisan affair. For another, hes also the one urging people to appreciate his failure.