U.S. Marines order removal Confederate flag in ban that extends to bumper stickers and mugs

The U.S. Marines have issued a directive ordering the removal of all public displays of the Confederate flag, including from bumper stickers, posters, mugs, posters and clothing.

Why it matters: In a statement, the Marines said the flag has been "co-opted by violent extremist and racist groups whose divisive beliefs have no place in our Corps."

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The big picture: Exceptions to the ban, issued on Friday, include state flags that incorporate the Confederate flag and the gravesites of Confederate soldiers.

• Marine Corps commandant Gen. David Berger, said on Wednesday in a statement on the nationwide protests against racism and the killing of George Floyd, "Current events are a stark reminder that it is not enough for us to remove symbols that cause division — rather, we also must strive to eliminate division itself."

Today, the Marine Corps released guidance on the removal of public displays of the Confederate battle flag.

MARADMIN 331/20: https://t.co/WLW4m70LW1 pic.twitter.com/TKoYJUL7Vo

— U.S. Marines (@USMC) June 6, 2020

Go deeper: 112-year-old Confederate statue in N.C. is removed