State senate votes to remove Confederate flag from South Carolina Capitol
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In the first of several votes needed to obtain approval to remove the Confederate battle flag from the South Carolina state Capitol grounds, the Republican-controlled state senate voted 37-3 on Monday to do so.
As debate took place, the desk of slain senator Clementa Pinckney was draped in black; several lawmakers said they had changed their views after he and eight others were shot to death at a historic Charleston church, the Associated Press reports. Another vote will be needed to send the bill to the state House of Representatives.
“We did our job,” said Sen. Vincent A. Sheheen. The Chesterfield County Democrat is the bill’s lead sponsor, the New York Times (reg. req.) reports.
“I do think that it sends a very loud and clear message to the House of Representatives,” Sheheen said, “that there is support, momentum, consensus, and I think it helps us clear the hurdles that we need to in the House of Representatives.”
Related coverage:
ABAJournal.com: “Hate-crime investigation launched after suspect captured in Charleston church shooting”
ABAJournal.com: “Should Confederate flag be displayed? ABA president, state officials, stores take a stand against it”
The State: “Live blog: Follow S.C. legislature’s Confederate flag debate”
Washington Post (reg. req.): “6 key moments from the South Carolina Senate’s strikingly blunt Confederate flag debate”
