The German car manufacturer BMW, which has a large plant in South Carolina, on Tuesday called for the state to remove the Confederate flag from the its capitol grounds.
“BMW applauds the courage of Governor Haley and supports her leadership in calling for the removal of the Confederate flag from the grounds of the South Carolina Statehouse,” the company said in a statement to TPM.
The company’s manufacturing plant in Spartanburg is one of its largest factories in the world.
Since the deadly shooting at a historic black church in Charleston renewed the state’s debate over the Confederate flag, numerous companies and CEOs have weighed in on the issue, calling on the state to take down the flag.
Late update at 1:30 p.m.
Daimler, the parent company for Mercedes-Benz, on Wednesday issued a statement on South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley’s (R) call for the state to remove the Confederate flag from the capitol grounds. Mercedes-Benz has plans to build a new plant in Charleston, S.C., in 2016.
“Daimler is taking special note of the efforts of the Governor to remove the Confederate flag from the Capital ground and trust the ongoing dialogue with various policymakers in South Carolina will be productive,” the Daimler statement reads.
Would someone at Bayerische Motoren Werke please inform Ted Cruz that his racism is not welcome as well.
And someone over at Volkswagen should weigh in as well
Funny how the flag didn’t cause them to hesitate putting their factory their in the first place. It’s amazing how a states ‘right to work aka right to kill union’ laws trump common decency when it come to maximizing profits.
“BMW applauds the courage of Governor Haley and supports her leadership in calling for the removal of the Confederate flag from the grounds of the South Carolina Statehouse,” the company said in a statement to TPM.
Where the fuck were you before the massacre, BMW? I imagine Haley would have been ¨brave¨ before if her corporate masters such as yourself had ever mentioned it.
Personally, Puppies, I thought it was a lie to begin with. That said, I will give her kudos for publicly starting this ball rolling amongst today’s Republicans. I’m very saddened it took a massacre to re-ignite this debate.
I do agree. Haley and the others who are serious need everyone’s help. I am fully aware that for many (politicians) this is optics that until now they hoped they’d never have to deal with. Tough – they have to do so now, and I’m more than happy to applaud and support their effort on this issue. I’m very glad that the CEOs of many of the largest corporations are voicing an opinion with which I and the majority agree.
Honestly, I hope I can expect some of the tough-to-decide-but-proper-good-and-right decisions next week after SCOTUS announces their decision in the same-sex-marriage issue. It is past high time for those in the state houses to be stern with their supporters and fellow politicians and state that their state will follow the decision. Even if they don’t believe in equality in their hearts, just so long as they follow the law and its spirit.
As a gay man, I will be anything but happy if SCOYUS rules we are second-class citizens with regards to government licensure and the full faith & credit part of our constitution, but I would accept it as law of the land and continue to work for equality by convincing the populace of what fairness and equality before the law looks like.