A Confederate flag display in the North Carolina booth at the Great American State Fair in Washington, D.C., has been removed.
Multiple news organizations first reported the flag was spotted at the booth on Friday.
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The booth was operated by several private sponsors and was not organized by the state of North Carolina or connected to any state officials.
North Carolina Governor Josh Stein condemned the use of the flag at the event.
"This flag does not represent the North Carolina we love," Stein said. "America250 is about unity and bringing our nation together."
The flag, which had the North Carolina emblem that is on every state flag, was also emblazoned with the stars and bars formation common in other Confederate flags. The flag at the booth was never the state flag at any point in the state's history.
The North Carolina exhibit at the Great American Fair in DC displays the confederate flag. pic.twitter.com/qyPxTHbF1D
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Stein's office told WRAL News that the flag has since been taken down. Mt. Olive Pickles, one of the booth's sponsors after the state declined to sponsor the booth, said they backed out of the event after images of the flag inside the booth were posted online.
"We were unaware that an image of the Confederate flag was included in a video as part of this exhibit, and we have withdrawn our participation," the company wrote on X. "Our company stands on values of human dignity, opportunity and Freedom."
The Great American State Fair was sponsored by Freedom 250, an organization created by President Donald Trump to run his administration's official events. Its creation caused tension with America250, a congressionally created group that will design and plan the nation's 250th anniversary.
Most states participated, treating the fair almost like a tourism opportunity. But there wasn't full representation.
Maine, Massachusetts, North Carolina and Pennsylvania also opted not to send delegations, citing costs, scheduling or politicization concerns. Pennsylvania's senators, John Fetterman, a Democrat, and Dave McCormick, a Republican, said Saturday they had gotten together with several business trade organizations to “make sure the Keystone State would have a showcase worthy of its singular place in our nation’s history.”
Stein said the state will have an America250 event in Raleigh for Independence Day on Saturday.
"Here in Raleigh, North Carolina is hosting a July 4th America250 celebration that will honor the spirit of equality and freedom in the Declaration of Independence. Everyone is welcome," Stein said.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.