NASCAR will no longer allow the Confederate flag to fly at any of its events.
On Wednesday, the U.S. racing company alerted followers on social media that it will ban the flag amid nationwide protests against racism and police violence following the death of George Floyd.
“The presence of the Confederate flag at NASCAR events runs contrary to our commitment to providing a welcoming and inclusive environment for all fans, our competitors and our industry,” the company said in a statement. “Bringing people together around a love for racing and the community that it creates is what makes our fans and sport special. The display of the Confederate flag will be prohibited from all NASCAR events and properties.”
— NASCAR (@NASCAR) June 10, 2020
Earlier this week, Bubba Wallace, NASCAR’s only black driver and the first black driver since 1971, called for the company to remove the presence of Confederate flags, saying it was “time for change.”
“No one should feel uncomfortable when they come to a NASCAR race. It starts with Confederate flags,” Wallace said to CNN’s Don Lemon. “Get them out of here. They have no place for them. There’s going to be a lot of angry people that carry those flags proudly, but it’s time for change. We have to change that, and I encourage NASCAR to have those conversations to remove those flags.”
