COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) – Republican Gov. Nikki Haley didn’t show any emotion as the Confederate flag was lowered and removed from the South Carolina Statehouse grounds until someone in the crowd yelled “Thank you, governor!”
Then, as the flag was taken down Friday morning, Haley nodded in the direction of the cheering and smiled.
The flag was taken down by a state Highway Patrol honor guard. One trooper took the flag down, and then he and another trooper rolled it up. They handed it a third trooper. Then, when the flag was given to an archivist, Haley clapped.
Haley called for the flag’s removal 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.
Representative Terry Alexander of Florence noted that South Carolina’s action today was that of a leading people and will bring positive change to the entire nation.
It’s a sign, not just in South Carolina, but all across this country, that the mood has shifted, that there’s a moral consciousness that has taken place here in this country, and I’m glad South Carolina has spearheaded that moral consciousness and can move us forward in a positive way.”
Governor Nikki Haley signed a bill to remove the Confederate flag from the Statehouse grounds, more than 50 years after it was raised in protest of the civil rights movement.
Gov. Haley signed the bill Thursday on the second floor of the Statehouse, where through a window the secessionist battle flag was visible outside. She was surrounded by the family members of those killed in the church shooting last month.
The law required the flag to be removed and placed in the state’s Confederate Relic Room. Haley says it will come down at 10 a.m. Friday.
The push to bring down the flag began after state Sen. Clementa Pinckney and eight other people were gunned down during their Bible study inside a historic black church. Police said it was racially motivated, and photographs emerged showing the suspect posing with Confederate flags.
Haley signed the bill to remove the flag at 4 p.m. Thursday. The House passed the bill early Thursday.
“It is a great day in South Carolina. So with that, we don’t want to wait any longer. We are now going to sign the bill,” Gov. Haley states just before signing the bill.
