Kentucky's state fair board and its parks department have taken stands against the sale of Confederate battle flag merchandise.
The fair board voted Thursday to prohibit the sale or giveaway of items displaying the battle flag. The ban applies to the state fairgrounds and a Louisville convention center the fair board operates.
NAACP leader Raoul Cunningham says the action represents progress against "hate literature." Fair board chairman Mark Lynn says fair officials will urge vendors under contracts to honor the new policy. He says future contracts will bind vendors to the policy.
The state parks department said it will no longer sell such merchandise as caps or shirts strictly featuring the Confederate battle flag at park gift shops.
The issue surfaced following a shooting rampage that killed nine people in South Carolina.