Confederate Flag Issue Affects Big Business; Confederate Flag Issue Sparks Intensity, Anger
JOHN VAUSE, CNN ANCHOR: Welcome back, everybody. You are watching CNN NEWSROOM, live all around the world. I'm John Vause.</s>ZAIN ASHER, CNN ANCHOR: And I'm Zain Asher. Let's give you your headlines. New York Police say they think they are closing in on escaped killers, Richard Matt and David Sweat. Joyce Mitchell admits to smuggling saw blades in to the men inside of frozen hamburger meat and she allegedly convinced guards to do favors for inmates by bringing the prison employees baked goods.</s>VAUSE: WikiLeaks is accusing the U.S. National Security Agency of spying on three French presidents. France's current president has called a meeting with his defense council to discuss the allegations. The U.S. official said it is not targeting President Francois Hollande but will conduct surveillance if there is a need.</s>ASHER: A heat wave in Pakistan has killed over 700 people. It includes Karachi, which is the country's biggest city. It is during Ramadan with most abstaining from food and water during the day.</s>VAUSE: Four new cases of the MERS virus in South Korea. The total is at 178. The outbreak is the largest outside of Saudi Arabia where the virus was discovered. 27 people have died. More than 3,000 remain under quarantine.</s>ASHER: In the U.S., the debate over the Confederate flag issue is affecting big business. Major U.S. retailers are taking a stand on the debate over the flag in the wake of the church shooting, the mass murders in South Carolina.</s>VAUSE: The biggest retailer of them all, Walmart is one of several retailers to ban sales of merchandise which features the rebel banner saying it has no intention of offending customers. The Walmart CEO further explained his decision to "CNN Money's. Cristina Alesci"</s>DOUG MCMILLON, CEO, WALMART: We just don't want to sell products that makes anyone feel uncomfortable. We felt like that was the case. This is the right thing to do.</s>CRISTINA ALESCI, CNN MONEY CORRESPONDENT: The Confederate flag has been a long-standing symbol of racism. Why do you think it took so long to make this decision? Why do you think it took Walmart so long to make this decision?</s>MCMILLON: This is one of those that hadn't been keyed up for a while, obviously, in this environment awareness changes. It is hard to manage all of these items, and from time to time, we are going to find things we need to discontinue.</s>ALESCI: Were you shocked to see that merchandise on Walmart?</s>MCMILLON: I was surprised. Yeah.</s>ALESCI: What was your reaction?</s>MCMILLON: Let's not sell it.</s>ASHER: Walmart CEO Doug McMillon there. Hillary Clinton is also weighing in on the Confederate flag debate. During an event in Missouri, she commended the U.S. retailers' decision to remove the Confederate flag merchandise.</s>VAUSE: She voiced support to remove the flag from the grounds of the South Carolina state capital.</s>HILLARY CLINTON, (D), FORMER SECRETARY OF STATE & PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Thank you.</s>CLINTON: Recognizing it as a symbol of our nation's racist past that has no place in our present or our future, it shouldn't fly there. It shouldn't fly anywhere.</s>VAUSE: Several states flew the Confederate flag more than 150 years ago in a war fought to preserve slavery. To this very day, many people still don't want to see that banner go away.</s>ASHER: CNN's Ed Lavandera caught up with one man with a very blunt view of his own.</s>ED LAVANDERA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: There's no question the Confederate flag symbol is deeply embedded in some parts of southern culture. As you have seen, a growing chorus of people calling for the flag to disappear. But in recent days, we saw today firsthand the intensity and anger this issue can spark.</s>UNIDENTIFIED CONFEDERATE FLAG SUPPORTER: Are we on your</s>LAVANDERA (voice-over): This is what happened when we tried to shoot video at a store in South Carolina selling Confederate flag memorabilia. This man, who refused to identify himself, wanted to make sure we couldn't show you the sign announcing three shirts for $25. He threw in an obscenity laced tirade for free.</s>UNIDENTIFIED CONFEDERATE FLAG SUPPORTER: People come together in peace</s>LAVANDERA: It didn't end there. The man followed us and tried to get in the way of us shooting other pictures around town.</s>LAVANDERA: With so much focus on the Confederate flag, tempers and passions are heated once again over this divisive symbol. Since the murders of nine African-Americans at the Emanuel AME Church in Charleston, the calls to bring down the Confederate flag have largely focused on the one flying on the state capital grounds. But Confederate imagery is big business. Found in countless stores, shops and front yards across the south. Confederate flag symbols are emblazoned on everything you can imagine, bumper stickers, bikinis, belt buckles, but buying these items might be getting tougher. Amazon, eBay, Walmart and Sears are banning the sale of the merchandise.</s>RANDY BURBAGE, SPOKESMAN, SONS OF CONFEDERATE VETERANS: This is really a different type of --</s>LAVANDERA: Randy Burbage keeps this in his office. He is a spokesman for the Sons of Confederate Veterans. He says 57 of his ancestors fought in the Civil War, 16 died in battle. For him, the Confederate battle flag is a family symbol of honor and sacrifice.</s>BERGAGE: Once the flag is removed, it will start down a slippery slope and then there will be the monument will be called to be removed from state house grounds, and then the next thing will be street names and building names which has already begun. Complete eradication to eliminate all Confederate history.</s>LAVANDERA: Despite the calls for Confederate symbols to come down, this is a reminder that the issue won't go away without a fight.</s>LAVANDERA: Ed Lavandera, CNN, Charleston, South Carolina.</s>VAUSE: U.S. officials say the government is changing the policy on negotiating with hostage takers. These are some of the Americans who have been detained while they were abroad. Family will be allowed to try to pay ransom for the release of their relatives. The government will directly negotiate but will not pay the actual ransom. The Obama administration has been criticized by some families who say they were threatened with prosecution if they tried to raise money to pay the ransoms. The fees increased when the government exchanged five Taliban detainees for the release of Army Sergeant Bowe Bergdahl. A short break here. When we come back, hard labor for life. That's what two men are facing accused of spying in North Korea. A live report from Seoul in just a moment.