Resolved: The United States Federal Government should ban the Confederate Flag in all 50 states.

Hello once again, my name is Forever23 and I am here to propose that the Confederate Flag should be banned in all 50 states. My ensuing roadmap will include repudiating my opponents points. The cons first assertion was that this flag represents unity. He went over the fact that this flag represented southern pride. However, these claims are only used to soften the true meaning of this flag. I am talking about the fact that it represents oppression, racism and slavery. Currently, this flag is used by racist group which still hold a grudge against African Americans. The point of unity is only a thin veil to cover up this flags true meaning. Proponents like to romanticize the meaning of the rebel flag, claiming it represents Southern culture and heritage, when I believe the southern United States is so much more than the Confederacy. How dare we belittle the rich history of the South with a flag solely designed to exemplify white supremacy. Where is the pride in subjugating entire races of people? Where is the pride in dividing a nation? Where is the pride in numbing ourselves to the idea that human beings could be enslaved, denied basic fundamental rights and disrespected in almost every aspect of their being? According to easternprogress.com, the Ku Klux Klan also uses the rebel flag heavily in their rallies and propaganda, which should be enough to deem it a racist symbol. Interestingly enough, Neo-Nazis in Europe area are not allowed to display the swastika, so they replaced it with the Confederate flag, thus again proving its intent to intimidate and divide. Therefore, this flag is one that brings racist groups together. The oppositions second assertion was that we must allow the flag to be because of the freedom of speech. However, freedom of speech states that it is fine to express yourself as long as it is not violent or offensive to others. The Confederate Flag is offensive to African Americans and many other people and races. Many people even commit violent acts while holding this flag. According to washingtonpost, Dylann Roof, who police say opened fire and killed nine people during a prayer meeting at a historic African American church here, was arrested Thursday, more than 13 hours after the chilling attack.Roof, a 21-year-old high-school dropout from Eastover, S.C., was taken into custody in North Carolina not long after law enforcement officials identified him as the sole suspect in the Wednesday night massacre, the deadliest attack on a place of worship in the United States in 24 years.The oldest victim was 87; the youngest was 26. They included a library manager, a track and field coach and a state senator, Clementa Pinckney, who also served as senior pastor at Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church, where the shooting occurred. Federal law enforcement officials said Roof, who is white, declared his hatred for black people before opening fire, and the U.S. Justice Department has said it is investigating the attack as a hate crime. While doing this, Roof was holding a Confederate Flag. A statistic by CNN states that 72% of Northern African Americans disapprove of this flag. 75% of Southern African Americans disapprove of the flag. Therefore, since the flag is offending those of different races, it should be Thank you. Please vote for the opposition team.