NASCAR bans Confederate flag from all events

NASCAR released a statement on Wednesday saying that “the confederate flag will be prohibited from all NASCAR events and properties.”

As the sports world has added its voice to the public reckoning happening over racism, police violence and racial injustice, NASCAR has made the long overdue move to bring down a symbol of hate.

On Wednesday, NASCAR announced that the Confederate flag will not be allowed to fly at any of its events going forward because it “runs contrary to our commitment to providing a welcoming and inclusive environment.”

NASCAR’s full statement read:

“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. 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’s move comes after Bubba Watson, the racing series’ only black driver, announced that he would be driving in a special Black Lives Matter paint scheme on Wednesday night in Martinsville.

Watson said the idea came to him after last week’s social media movement of #blackouttuesday.

“It was actually on Blackout Tuesday, which was a special day and a big day for our country, seeing millions of people peacefully protesting,” Wallace said. “We knew that the Martinsville race was open, we did not sell sponsorship for that, and it sparked an idea of ‘Why not run a blackout car?’ Our team brought that idea to me and I jumped all over it.”