South Carolina state building. The Muslim Times’ collection of articles against racism
By JEFFREY COLLINSBanner Could Come Down Within Days
COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — The South Carolina House approved taking down the Confederate flag from the Capitol grounds, a stunning reversal early Thursday in a state that was the first to leave the Union in 1860 and raised the flag again at its Statehouse more than 50 years ago to protest the civil rights movement.
The move came after more than 13 hours of contentious debate, and just weeks after the fatal shootings of nine black church members, including a state senator, at a Bible study in Charleston. The House approved the Senate bill by a two-thirds margin, and the bill now goes to Republican Gov. Nikki Haley’s desk. She who supports it and the banner could come down within days.
A group of Republicans had mounted opposition Wednesday to immediately removing the Confederate flag from the Capitol grounds, but at each turn, they were beaten back by a slightly larger, bipartisan group of legislators who believe there must be no delay.
As House members deliberated well into the night, there were tears of anger and shared memories of Civil War ancestors. Black Democrats, frustrated at being asked to show grace to Civil War soldiers as the debate went over 12 hours, warned the state was embarrassing itself.
The closest vote in the GOP-controlled body came on an amendment to place the state flat beside the monument to Confederate soldiers at the front of the Statehouse.
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