Confederate flag will no longer be sold at store after backlash

A flag shop in Portugal Cove-St. Philip's noticed a spike in sales of the Confederate flag since the recent controversy over the symbol in the United States — but the manager of the store says they will no longer be selling the items, after negative reactions from the public.

Carl Neary of Windco Flags on Portugal Cove Road said the store was selling the flags as novelty items only.

"We will no longer be selling the flag and apologize to all of the people that we offended," he said.

"We will destroy all of the stock we have on order."

Neary said he saw sales of the flag go up this week — substantially.

"We don't usually stock many, we usually only sell eight or nine a year," he said.

"I don't know if people in Newfoundland really see it as the Confederate flag or the Dukes of Hazard flag. I've always felt that the Confederate was a novelty flag around Canada. They haven't really given much reason for buying it, but I haven't been asking many questions."

Neary told CBC that one day this week the store received three phone calls from people looking for the Confederate flag.

A recent hate crime in the U.S. initially sparked the debate over the flag, which has now prompted many leaders and businesses in the country to denounce the flag.

For many, the flag represents a time when slavery was prominent in many parts of the United States.

Despite the sales jump, Neary said he's made the decision to stop selling the flags.

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Neary thinks it's possible the recent news that some stores such as Walmart may be halting sales of the flag may be the cause, as people fear they may soon not be able to get one.