The new advice governs the screen and depiction of flags on army installations, and even though the policy does not exclusively mention the Confederate fight flag, it is not listed amongst the flags permitted to be displayed.
The new coverage comes amid an ongoing debate about the screen of the Confederate fight flag and whether armed forces installations named shelling out tribute to Confederate officers must be renamed. President Donald Trump has resisted renaming these military bases.
Some navy solutions this kind of as the Maritime Corps have already issued bans on the screen of the Confederate struggle flag. NASCAR has also banned the show of the flag at its activities and Mississippi not too long ago moved to clear away the Confederate image from its point out flag.
“I am fully commited to fielding the most highly effective navy force the planet has regarded by strengthening the bonds of our most important source — our individuals. That is why we honor the American flag, which is the principal flag we are approved and encouraged to display,” Esper wrote in the memo, a duplicate of which has been received by CNN.
“The flags we fly will have to accord with the military imperatives of good buy and discipline, treating all our people today with dignity and regard, and rejecting divisive symbols,” Esper added.
Esper offered the steering Friday early morning to senior Protection Division leaders and commanders and famous that flags are effective symbols, notably in the navy group for whom flags embody popular mission, typical histories, and the special, timeless bonds of warriors, in accordance to a Pentagon assertion.
The new guidance applies to public displays or depictions of flags by support associates and civilian personnel in all Section of Protection workplaces, typical access locations, and community places.
A protection official verified that Black Life Make a difference flags and LGBTQ delight flags and depictions of flags will not be permitted both.
A defense official familiar with the selection instructed CNN that the decision to not identify a unique prohibited flag “was to make sure the section-large plan would be apolitical and withstand potential no cost speech political worries, but that the services are nonetheless free of charge to act on other flags.”
The official mentioned that the “White Property is knowledgeable of new coverage.”
The commandant of the Marine Corps, Gen. David Berger, issued a coverage banning the display screen of the flag on installations back in April and the Navy claimed it was also functioning on an buy to ban the flag.
The defense formal explained that “Esper supports the Marine Corps’ conclusion.”
This tale has been updated with extra background data.
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