The Confederate flag has been as much a part of popular culture as politics in the last few decades. Tom Petty, who displayed it on his 1985 Southern Accents tour, <a href="http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/tom-petty-on-past-confederate-flag-use-it-was-downright-stupid-20150714?page=2" target="_blank" target="_blank">told Rolling Stone</a> he was "dumb" to do so. "I was pretty ignorant of what it actually meant," he said. Here are others who have waved the flag -- or used it for their own purposes:
The Confederate flag has been as much a part of popular culture as politics in the last few decades. Tom Petty, who displayed it on his 1985 Southern Accents tour, told Rolling Stone he was "dumb" to do so. "I was pretty ignorant of what it actually meant," he said. Here are others who have waved the flag -- or used it for their own purposes:
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The Southern rock band Molly Hatchet has defended its use of the flag. "We still stand by our heritage, which is the South," guitarist Bobby Ingram <a href="http://www.hotmetalonline.com/2013/01/04/molly-hatchet-confederate-flag-not-racist/" target="_blank" target="_blank">told Hot Metal in 2013</a>. "I don't look at it as being racist at all. I look at it as heritage, not hate."
The Southern rock band Molly Hatchet has defended its use of the flag. "We still stand by our heritage, which is the South," guitarist Bobby Ingram told Hot Metal in 2013. "I don't look at it as being racist at all. I look at it as heritage, not hate."
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Kanye West has <a href="http://images.complex.com/complex/image/upload/t_article_image/gsiumm6907fe1qg9vaf9.png" target="_blank" target="_blank">wrapped himself in the flag</a> and worn flag decals. "I took the Confederate flag and made it my flag. It's my flag now. Now what you gonna do?" <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2013/11/04/us/kanye-west-confederate-flag/">he told a Los Angeles radio station</a>.
Kanye West has wrapped himself in the flag and worn flag decals. "I took the Confederate flag and made it my flag. It's my flag now. Now what you gonna do?" he told a Los Angeles radio station.
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The General Lee, the 1969 Dodge Charger from the TV show "The Dukes of Hazzard," featured a flag on its roof. Warner Bros. said it would no longer license models of the car with the flag. One of the show's stars, <a href="http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/john-schneider-confederate-flag-dukes-804933" target="_blank" target="_blank">John Schneider, told The Hollywood Reporter</a> that he was unhappy with the decision. Though acknowledging others may see it as a symbol of racism, he said, "If the flag was a symbol of racism, then Bo and Luke and Daisy and Uncle Jesse were a pack of wild racists and that could not be further from the truth."
The General Lee, the 1969 Dodge Charger from the TV show "The Dukes of Hazzard," featured a flag on its roof. Warner Bros. said it would no longer license models of the car with the flag. One of the show's stars, John Schneider, told The Hollywood Reporter that he was unhappy with the decision. Though acknowledging others may see it as a symbol of racism, he said, "If the flag was a symbol of racism, then Bo and Luke and Daisy and Uncle Jesse were a pack of wild racists and that could not be further from the truth."
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Lynyrd Skynyrd trotted out the flag as a symbol of rebellion in the 1970s, as seen on <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZVT-K82aoVI" target="_blank" target="_blank">a clip of the band performing "Sweet Home Alabama" in 1975</a>. The group's Gary Rossington<a href="http://newsroom.blogs.cnn.com/2012/09/09/lynyrd-skynyrd-talks-southern-roots/"> told CNN in 2012</a> that it would stop using it, though <a href="http://theboot.com/lynyrd-skynyrd-confederate-flag/" target="_blank" target="_blank">Skynyrd soon brought it back</a>. But now <a href="http://www.nola.com/music/index.ssf/2015/06/even_lynyrd_skynyrd_wanted_to.html" target="_blank" target="_blank">they give American flags more prominence</a>.
Lynyrd Skynyrd trotted out the flag as a symbol of rebellion in the 1970s, as seen on a clip of the band performing "Sweet Home Alabama" in 1975. The group's Gary Rossington told CNN in 2012 that it would stop using it, though Skynyrd soon brought it back. But now they give American flags more prominence.
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Kid Rock has been an outspoken supporter of the flag in the wake of recent controversy. The Michigan-born musician hasn't displayed it recently, but used it when promoting his 2012 album "Rebel Soul." He <a href="http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/kid-rock-tells-protestors-to-kiss-my-ass-over-confederate-flag-20150710" target="_blank" target="_blank">told off protesters in a Fox News interview</a>.
Kid Rock has been an outspoken supporter of the flag in the wake of recent controversy. The Michigan-born musician hasn't displayed it recently, but used it when promoting his 2012 album "Rebel Soul." He told off protesters in a Fox News interview.
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Ludacris <a href="http://www.complex.com/style/2013/06/the-worst-hip-hop-fashion-fails-of-all-time/ludacris-confederate-suit" target="_blank" target="_blank">wore a Confederate flag outfit</a> at the 2005 Vibe Awards -- and then stripped it off to reveal a flag in African pride colors. "This flag represents the oppression that we as African Americans have endured for years," the Georgia-raised rapper said.
Ludacris wore a Confederate flag outfit at the 2005 Vibe Awards -- and then stripped it off to reveal a flag in African pride colors. "This flag represents the oppression that we as African Americans have endured for years," the Georgia-raised rapper said.
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In the OutKast's video "Sorry Ms. Jackson," Atlanta-born rapper Andre 3000 wore a prominently featured flag belt buckle. He wore it "for Southern pride and to rebel," he told Vibe magazine.
In the OutKast's video "Sorry Ms. Jackson," Atlanta-born rapper Andre 3000 wore a prominently featured flag belt buckle. He wore it "for Southern pride and to rebel," he told Vibe magazine.
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Lil Jon and the East Side Boyz prominently feature the flag on the cover of their album "Put Yo Hood Up." He says showing it -- and showing it burning -- takes power away from racists. "We burned the flag on the album cover and in the music video," <a href="http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2015/07/09/still-raging-after-all-these-years-lil-jon-on-his-edm-rebirth-and-burning-the-confederate-flag.html" target="_blank" target="_blank">he told the Daily Beast</a>.
Lil Jon and the East Side Boyz prominently feature the flag on the cover of their album "Put Yo Hood Up." He says showing it -- and showing it burning -- takes power away from racists. "We burned the flag on the album cover and in the music video," he told the Daily Beast.
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