GREENVILLE, S.C. (June 23, 2015) — The Confederate battle flag is a symbol that has spawned vigorous debate, pro and con, about whether it should fly above the South Carolina Capitol grounds, and now Michelin North America Inc. Chairman and President Pete Selleck has stepped into the debate.
In the wake of South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley's about-face proposal on removing the flag from the grounds and putting it in a museum, Michelin posted a statement on its website from Mr. Selleck saying that the Greenville-based tire maker supports the flag's removal.
“We continue to grieve for the families of the victims of the Charleston shootings, for the Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church community, for our state and for our nation,” Mr. Selleck said.
“We respect this time of mourning and know that healing will not come easily for those personally affected by this tragedy. Michelin applauds Governor Haley's call to remove the Confederate flag from the Statehouse grounds and agrees that the flag must be immediately removed.
“We are ready to support our elected officials as they take the necessary steps to do so.”
CBS News reported today that “with heavy security and heightened expectations, several hundred people gathered (today) in the sweltering summer heat to demand the removal of the Confederate battle flag from atop a 30-foot pole outside South Carolina's Statehouse” in Columbia, S.C.