Amazon sees sales spike after Confederate flag merchandise banned by other retailers


eBay has become the latest retailer to announce a ban on the sale of Confederate flag merchandise, joining Sears and Walmart, who made their announcements yesterday. A spokesperson for eBay clarified that the Confederate flag has "become a contemporary symbol of divisiveness and racism," and that it would no longer be sold on the website.
Amazon did not respond to CNN's inquires about flag sales. At time of publishing, their Confederate flag purchases are up 3,620 percent in Patio, Lawn & Garden sales, with a 3-foot-by-5-foot flag the fifth best seller in the department.
Yesterday, South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley (R) called for the Confederate flag to be removed from the statehouse; in a special session today, the House voted 103-10 to discuss its removal. Debate continues across the nation about the legacy of the symbol.
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Update 2:42 p.m.: Reuters reports that Amazon will pull Confederate flag merchandise from its site.
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Jeva Lange was the executive editor at TheWeek.com. She formerly served as The Week's deputy editor and culture critic. She is also a contributor to Screen Slate, and her writing has appeared in The New York Daily News, The Awl, Vice, and Gothamist, among other publications. Jeva lives in New York City. Follow her on Twitter.
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