Newport News, Va. - The Dixie RV Superstore and its Confederate Flag sign have been in Newport News for decades. Not much has ever been made of the sign. But after last week's shooting in South Carolina, is this sign suddenly an issue?
NewsChannel 3 spoke to the president of the Dixie RV who said his heart goes out to the families of the victims in Charleston. He adds the sign is meant to symbolize southern hospitality and not racism.
But do people who drive by the sign view that flag the same way? Many have mixed feelings.
"Yes it can be a symbol racism and people use it as such but I think also some people just have some roots deeply south and they feel it's part of their tradition and heritage," said Newport News resident Laura Lloyd.
"It's like the swastika. It identified something, it identified a way of life and thought process that just...wasn't good," said Shannon Jackson.
Major retailers eBay, Walmart and Sears have stopped selling the flag. Lawmakers down in South Carolina are calling for the removal of the flag from the capitol.
However, people NewsChannel 3 spoke to say the business have every right to keep their sign under freedom of speech.
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