The Confederate flag has been a controversial symbol since the Civil War. Some people view it as a symbol of heritage and states' rights, while others view it as a symbol of racism and slavery. The flag is often displayed at protests and rallies by white supremacists and neo-Confederates.
In recent years, there has been a growing movement to remove the Confederate flag from public spaces. Many states and cities have passed laws banning the display of the flag on government property. The Confederate flag was removed from the South Carolina statehouse grounds in 2015 after a white supremacist killed nine black people at a church in Charleston.