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Confederate flag taken down from South Carolina capitol Confederate flag taken down from South Carolina capitol
(35 minutes later)
The Confederate flag has been removed from South Carolina capitol grounds in a ceremony attended by large crowds.The Confederate flag has been removed from South Carolina capitol grounds in a ceremony attended by large crowds.
A bill calling for the banner to be taken down was signed on Thursday by Republican Governor Nikki Haley after a long and fractious debate.A bill calling for the banner to be taken down was signed on Thursday by Republican Governor Nikki Haley after a long and fractious debate.
The flag, a symbol of both racism and southern pride, was heavily associated with a gunman that killed nine black churchgoers in South Carolina in June.The flag, a symbol of both racism and southern pride, was heavily associated with a gunman that killed nine black churchgoers in South Carolina in June.
It had stood on the state grounds for more than 50 years.It had stood on the state grounds for more than 50 years.
Hundreds of people turned out to watch the event in Columbia on Friday morning. Some chanted "take it down" while they waited for the ceremony to begin.Hundreds of people turned out to watch the event in Columbia on Friday morning. Some chanted "take it down" while they waited for the ceremony to begin.
Shortly after 10:00 ET (14:00 GMT) an honour guard of Highway Patrol officers marched on to the grounds and lowered the flag. Shortly after 10:00 ET (14:00 GMT) an honour guard of state troopers marched on to the grounds and lowered the flag.
The banner will now be transported to a nearby museum where Governor Haley said people "can honour it appropriately". Ms Haley, who did not speak at the event, stood on the steps of the statehouse as the flag was lowered and nodded in the direction of the crowd after someone shouted: "Thank you governor".
'Signal of healing'
The banner was then handed to a state archivist to be transported to a nearby museum where Governor Haley said people "can honour it appropriately".
It will eventually be housed in a multimillion-dollar shrine that lawmakers promised to build as part of a deal to get the bill removing the flag passed.
After the removal, President Barack Obama tweeted: "South Carolina taking down the confederate flag - a signal of good will and healing, and a meaningful step towards a better future."After the removal, President Barack Obama tweeted: "South Carolina taking down the confederate flag - a signal of good will and healing, and a meaningful step towards a better future."
The flag was originally the battle emblem of the southern states in the American Civil War which tried to break away. The backlash against the flag, which was the battle emblem of the southern states in the US Civil War, grew when nine black people were shot dead at a Charleston church on 17 June.
South Carolina was the first state to leave the union in 1860. It restored the flag in the capitol grounds more than 50 years ago in protest at the civil rights movement.
The backlash against it grew when nine black people were shot dead at a Charleston church on 17 June.
Dylann Roof, the 21-year-old charged with the killings, was pictured holding the flag.Dylann Roof, the 21-year-old charged with the killings, was pictured holding the flag.
Mr Obama delivered a eulogy at the funeral for Clementa Pinckney, a state senator and pastor at the church, who was killed in the attack.
After the shooting, the White House said President Obama believed the flag "belongs in a museum".