NASCAR asks fans to stop bringing Confederate flags to races
Following in the footsteps of big businesses such as Walmart and Amazon, NASCAR and its racetracks took a stand against the Confederate flag on Thursday in light of the allegedly racially motivated June shootings at a historically black church in South Carolina, releasing a statement asking fans to refrain from bringing the flag to races, NBC Sports reports.
"We are asking our fans to join us in a renewed effort to create an all-inclusive, even more welcoming atmosphere for all who attend our events," the statement reads. "This is an opportunity for NASCAR Nation to demonstrate its sense of mutual respect and acceptance."
On Wednesday, NBC Sports reports, the Daytona International Speedway announced that it will offer a "flag exchange" at this weekend's NASCAR races — fans can bring their Confederate flags and swap them for an American flag to wave at the track instead. NASCAR noted that fans who do choose to still bring Confederate flags to events will not be banned from races.
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Sarah Eberspacher is an associate editor at TheWeek.com. She has previously worked as a sports reporter at The Livingston County Daily Press & Argus and The Arizona Republic. She graduated from Northwestern University's Medill School of Journalism.
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