New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo has signed into law Thursday a bill that prohibits the sale of the Confederate flag and other "symbols of hate" at the New York State Fair, and bans the display of those items in public buildings.
The bill was sponsored by state Sen. Alessandra Biaggi, D-Bronx, Westchester, and "prohibits the state of New York from selling or displaying symbols of hate or any similar image, or tangible personal property, inscribed with such an image unless the image appears in a book, digital medium, museum or serves an educational or historical purpose."
According to the bill, a "symbol of hate" is defined as "symbols of white supremacist and neo-Nazi ideology or the Battle Flag of the Confederacy."
The bill also empowers the Commissioner of the Department of Agriculture and Markets to prohibit the sale of "symbols of hate" at any other fairs in New York that receive federal, local or state funding.
"This bill would limit the display of the Confederate flag, as well as other symbols of hate, on or within the grounds of public property, including fairgrounds. Further, it makes clear that New York State will not tolerate racism, exclusion, oppression, and violence through the display of such antagonistic and deeply hurtful symbols," the bill said.
Click here to read the full text of the bill.
This story was originally published by Anthony Reyes on WKBW in Buffalo, New York.
