Dems shut Ohio county fair booth over Confederate flag sales

WELLINGTON, Ohio (AP) — The local Democratic Party has closed its booth at a county fair in northeast Ohio because officials won’t ban the sale of Confederate flags at the event.

The Chronicle-Telegram of Elyria reports the head of the Lorain County Democratic Party on Thursday removed banners and party literature from its booth at the fair, leaving only a table and chair for candidates. Party chairman Anthony Giardini says the Confederate flag is offensive and he can’t allow his organization to support an event where it is sold.

Fair board president Kim Meyers says people have expressed support for allowing sales of the flag, which originally was flown by Confederate states during the Civil War.

The West Virginia-based vendor selling the flags says they have nothing to do with slavery.