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South Carolina to take down Confederate flag at capitol – live updates South Carolina to take down Confederate flag at capitol – live updates
(35 minutes later)
10.09am ET15:09
Officers of what appear to be the highway patrol are marching out onto the lawn now in rigid steps. They take positions around the flag.
Updated at 10.09am ET
10.06am ET15:06
There’s a crowd of several hundred people around the statehouse, most of whom cordoned away from the square where the Confederate flag flies.
Over the live stream there are several competing chants, but only “take it down!” is intelligible. Governor Nikki Haley has arrived, but there’s till no activity on the lawn.
9.58am ET14:58
A few people are chanting “take it down,” reports the New York Times’ Alan Blinder.
Rebel flag in its final minutes of flight outside the South Carolina State House. pic.twitter.com/XuIMusVUoU
9.54am ET14:54
Once and future flag events, via Kyle Jordan of Charleston’s Live5News.
July 1, 2000 - The last time #ConfederateFlag moved at SC statehouse #scnews #chsnews #TBT https://t.co/MeQc0zRIeN pic.twitter.com/GeEEQHVYQn
Family members of Emanuel AME and lawmakers outside statehouse to see #ConfederateFlag come down. #chsnews #scnews pic.twitter.com/iMhFR6bURZ
9.49am ET14:49
Beyond whatever solemn pomp is planned for this morning’s ceremony, it’s not actually clear how officials will take down the flag: it has no rope or pulley, apparently designed as such to prevent opponents from pulling it down more frequently.
Per the New York Times:
Part of the mystery is practical: The pole to which the flag is attached appears to have no mechanism — no winch, pulley, or rope — that a person on the ground might use to bring it down. Some have speculated that this design was all part of the passion that surrounds anything to do with the battle flag, which had originally flown over the State House but was moved to the pole, next to a Confederate soldiers’ memorial, after a bitter debate and political compromise in 2000.
Two weeks ago an activist needed climbing gear and a friend as spotter to hoist herself up and pull it down (they were promptly arrested).
9.40am ET14:40
The the statehouse there’re officers from the South Carolina Highway Patrol, the director of the Confederate Relic Room (who’ll take once it’s down), and Jesse Jackson. The mayor, two former governors and the interim pastor from Charleston’s Emanuel AME church are all expected as well.
South Carolina is scheduled to lower the Confederate battle flag in less than 30 minutes. pic.twitter.com/qpvPKJeohH
Lots of different people here to witness the Confederate Flag coming down pic.twitter.com/o3Ul4dhhLg
9.33am ET14:339.33am ET14:33
It’s “a pretty even mix of pro- and anti-flag” in Columbia, where Matthew Teague is in Columbia reporting for the Guardian.It’s “a pretty even mix of pro- and anti-flag” in Columbia, where Matthew Teague is in Columbia reporting for the Guardian.
This gentleman is Ronald Brock, who drove across the continent from California to protest the taking down of the flag. The battle flags on his truck have a script on them reading: “I Ain’t Comin’ Down.”This gentleman is Ronald Brock, who drove across the continent from California to protest the taking down of the flag. The battle flags on his truck have a script on them reading: “I Ain’t Comin’ Down.”
Then there’s Charlene Stoll Hale, who is fairly representative of the pro-flag contingent. She’s from Lexington, SC.Then there’s Charlene Stoll Hale, who is fairly representative of the pro-flag contingent. She’s from Lexington, SC.
“I’m here to honor my three great-grandfathers who fought in the civil war.”“I’m here to honor my three great-grandfathers who fought in the civil war.”
What about the fact that they were fighting to preserve slavery? Does the flag carry no racist overtones?What about the fact that they were fighting to preserve slavery? Does the flag carry no racist overtones?
“It may for some people, but not for me.”“It may for some people, but not for me.”
9.21am ET14:219.21am ET14:21
The Confederate flag will be taken down from South Carolina’s capitol today, less than a month after nine black people were killed at a historic church, a half-century after lawmakers raised the flag in protest to desegregation, and more than 150 years after the state seceded from the union in a war that abolished the right to own slaves there.The Confederate flag will be taken down from South Carolina’s capitol today, less than a month after nine black people were killed at a historic church, a half-century after lawmakers raised the flag in protest to desegregation, and more than 150 years after the state seceded from the union in a war that abolished the right to own slaves there.
On Thursday Governor Nikki Haley signed the law that will remove the flag at a ceremony around 10am ET, following 15 hours of debate by lawmakers as to the flag’s meaning as a symbol of slavery or an artifact of heritage.On Thursday Governor Nikki Haley signed the law that will remove the flag at a ceremony around 10am ET, following 15 hours of debate by lawmakers as to the flag’s meaning as a symbol of slavery or an artifact of heritage.
“The Confederate flag is coming off the grounds of the South Carolina statehouse,” Haley said at a signing ceremony. “It’s hard for us to look at what is happening today and not think back to 22 days ago. It seems like so long ago because the grieving has been so hard.”“The Confederate flag is coming off the grounds of the South Carolina statehouse,” Haley said at a signing ceremony. “It’s hard for us to look at what is happening today and not think back to 22 days ago. It seems like so long ago because the grieving has been so hard.”
In June, nine black people were murdered during a Bible study session in Charleston, South Carolina, by a gunman believed to have espoused white supremacy. The mass shooting reinvigorated a campaign to remove take down public displays of the flag, with which the shootings suspect posed in photos.In June, nine black people were murdered during a Bible study session in Charleston, South Carolina, by a gunman believed to have espoused white supremacy. The mass shooting reinvigorated a campaign to remove take down public displays of the flag, with which the shootings suspect posed in photos.
The flag will be placed in a Confederate relic room and military museum.The flag will be placed in a Confederate relic room and military museum.