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| Confederate flag: Calls grow for symbol to be retired | Confederate flag: Calls grow for symbol to be retired |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Pressure is mounting to withdraw the Confederate battle flag across the US, after South Carolina lawmakers called for its removal from the state house. | |
| Efforts are under way in at least three other states to remove state-sponsored Confederate tributes, and retailers are clearing their shelves of it. | |
| Protesters rallied in Columbia on Tuesday to demand the flag's removal from South Carolina's state capitol. | |
| The state's governor, Nikki Haley, has said the flag should come down. | |
| The murder of nine parishioners at a historical black church in Charleston, South Carolina, last week renewed debate about the place of the flag in US culture. | The murder of nine parishioners at a historical black church in Charleston, South Carolina, last week renewed debate about the place of the flag in US culture. |
| The suspect, Dylann Roof, has appeared in many photos holding the flag. | The suspect, Dylann Roof, has appeared in many photos holding the flag. |
| The Confederate battle flag became a potent symbol for the southern states fighting the Civil War as they sought to break away from the union. | The Confederate battle flag became a potent symbol for the southern states fighting the Civil War as they sought to break away from the union. |
| It is seen by some as an icon of slavery and racism while others say the banner symbolises their heritage and history. | It is seen by some as an icon of slavery and racism while others say the banner symbolises their heritage and history. |
| Virginia governor Terry McAuliffe announced on Tuesday he wants to have the flag removed from state licence plates. A recent US Supreme Court decision said states can restrict such designs. | Virginia governor Terry McAuliffe announced on Tuesday he wants to have the flag removed from state licence plates. A recent US Supreme Court decision said states can restrict such designs. |
| In Mississippi, lawmakers plan on rolling out legislation that would remove the Confederate symbol from the state flag, where it is prominently displayed in the upper left corner. | In Mississippi, lawmakers plan on rolling out legislation that would remove the Confederate symbol from the state flag, where it is prominently displayed in the upper left corner. |
| "As a Christian, I believe our state's flag has become a point of offence that needs to be removed," said Mississippi representative Phillip Gunn. | "As a Christian, I believe our state's flag has become a point of offence that needs to be removed," said Mississippi representative Phillip Gunn. |
| But former Mississippi governor Haley Barbour said he was not offended at all by it. | But former Mississippi governor Haley Barbour said he was not offended at all by it. |
| On the scene - Aleem Maqbool, BBC News, Columbia | On the scene - Aleem Maqbool, BBC News, Columbia |
| In the demonstration outside the state capitol, there were just as many white protesters as black, if not more. | In the demonstration outside the state capitol, there were just as many white protesters as black, if not more. |
| Some said they had always recognised the confederate flag was a racist symbol, others said that while they felt that the flag was important in terms of heritage they had come to realise it was offensive to many and so had to be consigned to museums. | Some said they had always recognised the confederate flag was a racist symbol, others said that while they felt that the flag was important in terms of heritage they had come to realise it was offensive to many and so had to be consigned to museums. |
| African Americans unanimously told us they felt insulted by the confederate flag and had long wanted it gone. | African Americans unanimously told us they felt insulted by the confederate flag and had long wanted it gone. |
| Some expressed disappointment that it had taken the deaths of nine people for politicians who had once defended the flying of the flag beside official buildings, to finally acknowledge how divisive a symbol it was. | Some expressed disappointment that it had taken the deaths of nine people for politicians who had once defended the flying of the flag beside official buildings, to finally acknowledge how divisive a symbol it was. |
| Lawmakers in Tennessee said they need to "revisit" whether a bust of a former Confederate general and Ku Klux Klan leader should be displayed in the capitol. | Lawmakers in Tennessee said they need to "revisit" whether a bust of a former Confederate general and Ku Klux Klan leader should be displayed in the capitol. |
| The likeness of Nathan Bedford Forrest has sat in a state Senate chamber for decades. | The likeness of Nathan Bedford Forrest has sat in a state Senate chamber for decades. |
| The push was not only limited to state governments as Walmart, Sears and eBay announced that they would stop selling Confederate flag merchandise. | The push was not only limited to state governments as Walmart, Sears and eBay announced that they would stop selling Confederate flag merchandise. |
| Amid calls for Confederate tributes to be removed, some have been the target of vandals. | Amid calls for Confederate tributes to be removed, some have been the target of vandals. |
| In downtown Charleston, a statue of former politician and defender of slavery John C Calhoun was defaced with the word "racist" scrawled underneath. | In downtown Charleston, a statue of former politician and defender of slavery John C Calhoun was defaced with the word "racist" scrawled underneath. |
| In South Carolina, the Post and Courier newspaper is asking every state lawmaker whether they support removing the flag. A majority have said they do. | In South Carolina, the Post and Courier newspaper is asking every state lawmaker whether they support removing the flag. A majority have said they do. |
| The flag can only be removed by a two-thirds vote of the state legislature. | The flag can only be removed by a two-thirds vote of the state legislature. |
| Birth of a flag | |
| Why do people still fly the Confederate flag? |