Governor Haley of South Carolina has a great way about her and is showing great leadership during a time of crisis in her state. In order for South Carolina to heal, Haley is calling for the removal from the Capitol Grounds of the Confederate Flag. There’s so much more to this than just the removal of the flag but we’ll see where this shakes out first.
South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley called for the removal of the Confederate flag from the grounds of the state Capitol Monday. “Today, we are here in a moment of unity in our state, without ill will, to say it is time to move the flag from the Capitol grounds,” Haley said during a news conference attended by Republican senators Lindsey Graham, Tim Scott and other state leaders.
The announcement was met by applause and cheers from those in attendance.
The flag wasn’t lowered to half-staff after the shooting along with the other flags at the Statehouse after nine people were killed at a historic African American church Wednesday because doing so is under the authority of the state’s General Assembly — and so is taking it down.
The General Assembly’s session ended on June 4, but lawmakers are meeting Tuesday to pass a budget compromise, at which point they can vote on extending the session to debate the Confederate flag. A decision to continue the session would take two-thirds of the vote, as would passing legislation to take down the flag.
If they don’t, Haley said she would use her authority to call them back into session to debate on the flag.
“There will be a time for discussion and debate, but the time for action is coming soon,” Haley said. “We know bringing down the flag will not bring back the nine victims,” but “we will not allow the symbol to divide us any longer.”
I hope that, by removing the flag, we can take another step towards healing and recognition – and a sign that South Carolina is moving forward,” Graham said in a statement after the news conference.
Political and religious leaders in the state urged lawmakers to vote to remove the flag as early as Tuesday in tribute to the victims of the shooting.
Read more: NBC News
