Confederate flag removed from NC booth at Washington fair

A video display showing the Confederate flag at a privately sponsored North Carolina booth at the Great American State Fair in Washington, D.C., was removed on Friday, June 26, 2026, after sparking widespread condemnation. The imagery appeared on multiple television screens inside the pavilion on the National Mall, which was created by private organizations after the state government declined to participate in the event due to budget constraints.

The controversy began when journalist Reuben Jones shared video from the booth on social media, showing a split-screen display featuring the North Carolina state flag alongside the Confederate flag. The Confederate flag has never been part of North Carolina's official state flag design. The booth is part of the 16-day Great American State Fair, an event organized by the public-private partnership Freedom 250 to celebrate the nation's 250th anniversary. The fair began on Thursday, June 25, and is scheduled to run through July 10.

Organizers said the video was removed swiftly after they became aware of it. A spokesperson for the North Carolina pavilion stated that on Friday they became aware of an unapproved image in a video displayed...