The Confederate battle flag was lowered from a pole on the South Carolina statehouse grounds and taken away to a military museum by an honor guard of state troopers this morning. A crowd cheered and applauded as the pro-slavery banner came down.
The flag was removed after 54 years and heated emotional debate about what is an emblem of Southern pride for some — a symbol of hatred and racism for others. It took the massacre of nine African Americans in a historic church in Charleston by a white gunman last month to make it happen. President Obama praised the move.
South Carolina taking down the confederate flag – a signal of good will and healing, and a meaningful step towards a better future.
— President Obama (@POTUS) July 10, 2015