SC Governor wants Confederate 'hate sign' flag removed from statehouse

Governor Nikki Haley addresses a full church during a prayer vigil held at Morris Brown AME Church, South Carolina, on June 18, 2015. Reuters

Amid pressures from local protesters and national advocates, South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley issued a call to take down the Confederate flag that has been flying in front of the statehouse grounds for more than 50 years.

Although acknowledging that many Southerners still revere the Confederate flag, Haley said on Monday the time has come to remove that which has become "a deeply offensive symbol of brutally offensive past."

"We are here in a moment of unity in our state without ill will to say it is time to remove the flag from our capitol grounds," Haley said in her bid to make a concrete gesture of healing five days after the Charleston shooting, according to CNN.

"This flag, while an integral part of our past, does not represent the future of our great state," she emphasised.

Haley, the first woman and first American-Indian to serve as South Carolina governor, issued the statement just a few days after displaying little interest to address the flag issue, which some said has divided the American nation since the shooting.

Senators Lindsey Graham and Tim Scott, Reps. Jim Clyburn and Mark Sanford as well Charleston Mayor Joe Riley, together with heads of both state parties, stood beside Haley during the announcement on Monday.

"Some divisions are bigger than a flag... We are not going to allow this symbol to divide us any longer. The fact that people are choosing to use it as a sign of hate is something we cannot stand," she said, according to Washington Post.

Over the weekend, authorities confirmed discovering a racist manifesto in a website that contained references to the Confederacy as well as images of the Confederate flag which belonged to Charleston shooting gunman Dylann Roof.

This sparked more calls for the removal of the flag in front of the State legislature near the state Capitol in Columbia.

Haley, a two-term Republican governor, said the state legislature would address the flag issue in an extraordinary session on Tuesday, promising to call an emergency session over the summer should it fail to do so.

Rep. Doug Brannon, who authored a bill that seeks to remove the flag entirely from the capitol, said the bill received ample support among colleagues he had spoken with in the House.

"The flag of their heritage is fine for them. And their flag of heritage needs to be in a museum. The flag that I'm talking about was put up by a bunch of white guys in 1962 in response to desegregation," Brannon said.

"And that's not heritage. That's hate," he added, according to the Guardian.

Walmart earlier announced that it will pull out all Confederate flag merchandise from all its stores.

The largest retailer in America has been carrying the Confederate flag as well as clothes featuring the flag's design like T-shirts and belt buckles.

"We never want to offend anyone with the products that we offer. We have taken steps to remove all items promoting the confederate flag from our assortment—whether in our stores or on our website," Walmart spokesman Brian Nick said.

related articles
US gun debate reignites: Slain pastor blamed for church massacre as Obama calls for more gun control
US gun debate reignites: Slain pastor blamed for church massacre as Obama calls for more gun control

US gun debate reignites: Slain pastor blamed for church massacre as Obama calls for more gun control

Charleston\'s \'Mother Emanuel\' mourns its dead in packed Sunday service
Charleston's 'Mother Emanuel' mourns its dead in packed Sunday service

Charleston's 'Mother Emanuel' mourns its dead in packed Sunday service

Christian artists slam Charleston killings, condole with victims\' kin
Christian artists slam Charleston killings, condole with victims' kin

Christian artists slam Charleston killings, condole with victims' kin

Symbol of civil war or racist hatred? Confederate flag sparks US debate after Charleston church killings
Symbol of civil war or racist hatred? Confederate flag sparks US debate after Charleston church killings

Symbol of civil war or racist hatred? Confederate flag sparks US debate after Charleston church killings

Charleston killings spark US soul-searching about \'racist\' Confederate flag
Charleston killings spark US soul-searching about 'racist' Confederate flag

Charleston killings spark US soul-searching about 'racist' Confederate flag

While Dylann Roof faces wrath of many for Charleston shooting,  this gospel singer shows him love
While Dylann Roof faces wrath of many for Charleston shooting, this gospel singer shows him love

While Dylann Roof faces wrath of many for Charleston shooting, this gospel singer shows him love

News
How modern science owes its existence to Christian theology
How modern science owes its existence to Christian theology

Some people think that you have to choose between science and religion, but that is not the case. This is the story …

US religious groups challenge new immigrant enforcement policies
US religious groups challenge new immigrant enforcement policies

A United States Federal Judge has granted an injunction that will prevent immigration agents from carrying out operations in places of worship after a group of religious organisations launched a lawsuit against the Trump administration over new enforcement policies.

Gyles Brandreth joins campaign to end avoidable sight loss
Gyles Brandreth joins campaign to end avoidable sight loss

Gyles Brandreth has thrown his support behind CBM UK’s campaign to end avoidable sight loss.

Church leaders call for 'rethink' of school closures in Ramadan
Church leaders call for 'rethink' of school closures in Ramadan

“We urge the governors of the affected states to reconsider this decision and explore alternative arrangements that respect the rights and freedoms of all citizens.”