These Confederate Flags were not being torn down by anyone. Jim Urquhart for InsiderThis year's Sturgis Motorcycle Rally is in South Dakota.It is the largest motorcycle rally worldwide, attracting hundreds of riders and revelers.Dr. Anthony Fauci warned that this year's celebrations could again be a superspreader affair.For more stories, visit Insider's homepage.Hundreds of thousands of bikers rode into Sturgis, South Dakota for the annual motorcycle rally. Vendors selling merchandise with Nazi imagery and confederate Flags were once more in the spotlight.KOTA, a local ABC News affiliate, reports that vendors at this year’s rally, which takes place during the first ten Days of August, sell merchandise with Nazi imagery in the pretense of supporting freedom for riders and attendees.One hat bears initials "SS", which refers to the Schutzstaffel, a Nazi military unit. The text below the hat's lid reads "support your local White Boy."Another was marked with a swastika. The report revealed that many vendors sold Confederate flag memorabilia to appeal to customers who consider it a "heritage symbol"."Many bikers believe freedom is a key thing. Many bikers want freedom and to voice their opinions. I enjoy being able to accommodate them. In an interview with KOTA, Jenny Alonso, a vendor at rally, stated that while I don't necessarily believe in everything, it does mean that I do not like to please everyone.Alonso stated that vendors would sell the merchandise to honor US soldiers who brought back Nazi memorabilia as trophies following World War II.Alonso stated, "So, we're sort of honoring that not necessarily that,"The rally organizers claim that it is open to people from all walks of life and share a love of motorcycles. Insider reached out for comments from the organizers about the merchandise that was sold at the rally.As it was reported last week that the rally attracted some of the largest crowds in its history, Dr. Anthony Fauci (director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases) expressed concern that the Sturgis Motorcycle Ride would become a COVID-19 superpreader event, given the recent surge in the Delta variant, which has devastated communities across the US.Insider has the original article.
