Confederate flag removed from South Carolina Statehouse

World Today

The Confederate flag has been removed from a flagpole on the grounds of the South Carolina Statehouse, where it has had a presence for 54 years.

The rebel banner was taken down Friday morning by a Highway Patrol honor guard in a ceremony attended by thousands who cheered at the removal, many yelling “USA, USA” and “Hey, hey, hey, goodbye!”

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A van will take the flag to a nearby museum, where it will be housed.

The reversal seemed unthinkable just a month ago. It comes after the June 17 massacre of nine black parishioners at a Charleston church. A white man is charged, and authorities say the killings were racially motivated. The shootings reignited calls to remove Confederate symbols across the country.

LEARN MORE: What is the Confederate flag and why is it still flown in South Carolina?

The Confederate flag was raised over the Capitol dome in 1961 to protest integration. It was moved in 2000 to a flagpole in front of the Statehouse.

The flagpole, too, will be torn down, but no timetable is set.

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The ceremony and flag removal come after the June 17 massacre of nine black parishioners at a Charleston church. A white man is charged, and authorities say the killings were racially motivated. The shootings reignited calls to remove Confederate symbols nationwide.

The Confederate flag was raised over the Capitol dome in 1961 to protest integration. It was moved in 2000 to a flagpole in front of the Statehouse.

The leader of the South Carolina chapter of the Sons of Confederate Veterans says he is not at the ceremony to take down the rebel flag because he honors the memories of his seven ancestors who fought for the South in the Civil War.

Leland Summers said by phone Friday ahead of the ceremony that: “I’m not going down there to watch them be dishonored and defamed.”

He says his organization was not asked to participate in the Statehouse ceremony, unlike in 2000 when the flag was moved from the Capitol dome to a monument in front of the building.

Summers says that at some point today, he will pause, reflect on his Southern relatives and pray for the future of the country.

Story by the Associated Press