South Carolina Senate pushes forward with removing Confederate flag

COLUMBIA, S.C. — The South Carolina Senate moved forward with plans Monday to lower the Confederate battle flag from the State House grounds and retire it to the Confederate Relic Room and Military Museum.

The 37-3 vote gave a bill removing the flag the second of three readings. The Senate must take one more vote Tuesday to send the bill to the House. The final vote requires a two-thirds majority vote for passage, a rule set under set in the 2000 law that moved the Civil War icon off the Capitol dome.

The House could take up the proposal as early as Wednesday.

The vote was emotional in Senate where senators debated remembering the heritage of Confederate soldiers and the memory of state Sen. Clementa Pinckney, who was one of nine African-American parishioners killed June 17 during a Bible study at Emanuel AME Church in Charleston.

The shootings were called a hate crime by authorities. Dylann Roof, a 21-year-old Columbia area man known by friends for spouting racist remarks, was charged in connection with the murders.

Gov. Nikki Haley began the calls for banishing the flag two weeks ago at a State House news conference with South Carolina’s two U.S. senators, U.S. Rep. Jim Clyburn, D-Columbia, and number of state lawmakers from both parties.

Before lawmakers took a vote on the proposal to remove the flag and place it in the Relic Room, several senators took to the well.

“Let today be the beginning of a story about a new South Carolina,” said Democratic state Sen. Joel Lourie, encouraging lawmakers to vote for the bill.

Lourie continued: It’s “a story that starts after a very bitter and somewhat toxic legislative session, a story about how this General Assembly came together in the wake of unspeakable horrors to work to unite the people of South Carolina, a story of how we helped remove a symbol that helped heal a nation and a state in their mourning.”

Senate Majority Leader Harvey Peeler, a Republican, said he would not vote to remove the Confederate flag.

“It’s been suggested that the flag be removed from the State House grounds and placed in a museum to give it proper honor,” Peeler said.

But, he continued, “The greatest museum in the state of South Caorlina is right here” on the State House grounds.

Peeler said removing the flag from the grounds would be like removing a tattoo from the corpse of a loved one — an action that would not change that person’s life or history.

“Moving the flag won’t change history,” he said.

“Do what you think you feel we must for the healing of this state,” Peeler told senators. “Do what you think we must do, but you will not accomplish it with an affirmative vote by me least we forget our ancestor.”

Democratic state Sen. Marlon Kimpson thanked Senate Republicans for “having the courage” for supporting and speaking out for the flag’s removal.

“This is our moment to live our creed,” Kimpson said, adding that the Emanuel AME Church in Charleston whose members were slain “called for justice and humanity for all.”

Before the Senate vote, a few amendments were offered but failed.

GOP state Sen. Lee Bright offered two proposals. One that would ask voters to weigh in on whether they would like to see the flag remain where it currently flies or come down.

Bright’s other proposal would replace the Confederate battle flag with the 1st National flag of the Confederate States of America.

Both failed by wide margins.

A third proposal by GOP state Sen. Danny Verdin, to take the Confederate battle flag down but allow it to fly from dawn until dusk on Confederate Memorial Day, failed by a narrow margin of 22-17.

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Local News

A firefighter stands in silence before a panel bearing the names of L. John Regelbrugge and Kris Regelbrugge during the ten-year remembrance of the Oso landslide on Friday, March 22, 2024, at the Oso Landslide Memorial in Oso, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
‘Flood of emotions’ as Oso Landslide Memorial opens on 10th anniversary

Friends, family and first responders held a moment of silence at 10:37 a.m. at the new 2-acre memorial off Highway 530.

Julie Petersen poses for a photo with images of her sister Christina Jefferds and Jefferds’ grand daughter Sanoah Violet Huestis next to a memorial for Sanoah at her home on March 20, 2024 in Arlington, Washington. Peterson wears her sister’s favorite color and one of her bangles. (Annie Barker / The Herald)
‘It just all came down’: An oral history of the Oso mudslide

Ten years later, The Daily Herald spoke with dozens of people — first responders, family, survivors — touched by the deadliest slide in U.S. history.

Victims of the Oso mudslide on March 22, 2014. (Courtesy photos)
Remembering the 43 lives lost in the Oso mudslide

The slide wiped out a neighborhood along Highway 530 in 2014. “Even though you feel like you’re alone in your grief, you’re really not.”

Director Lucia Schmit, right, and Deputy Director Dara Salmon inside the Snohomish County Department of Emergency Management on Friday, March 8, 2024, in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
How Oso slide changed local emergency response ‘on virtually every level’

“In a decade, we have just really, really advanced,” through hard-earned lessons applied to the pandemic, floods and opioids.

Ron and Gail Thompson at their home on Monday, March 4, 2024 in Oso, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
In shadow of scarred Oso hillside, mudslide’s wounds still feel fresh

Locals reflected on living with grief and finding meaning in the wake of a catastrophe “nothing like you can ever imagine” in 2014.

Everett mall renderings from Brixton Capital. (Photo provided by the City of Everett)
Topgolf at the Everett Mall? Mayor’s hint still unconfirmed

After Cassie Franklin’s annual address, rumors circled about what “top” entertainment tenant could be landing at Everett Mall.

Everett
Everett man sentenced to 3 years of probation for mutilating animals

In 2022, neighbors reported Blayne Perez, 35, was shooting and torturing wildlife in north Everett.

Dorothy Crossman rides up on her bike to turn in her ballot  on Tuesday, Aug. 1, 2023 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Everett leaders plan to ask voters for property tax increase

City officials will spend weeks hammering out details of a ballot measure, as Everett faces a $12.6 million deficit.

Starbucks employee Zach Gabelein outside of the Mill Creek location where he works on Friday, Feb. 23, 2024 in Mill Creek, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Mill Creek Starbucks votes 21-1 to form union

“We obviously are kind of on the high of that win,” store bargaining delegate Zach Gabelein said.

Lynnwood police respond to a collision on highway 99 at 176 street SW. (Photo provided by Lynnwood Police)
Police: Teen in stolen car flees cops, causes crash in Lynnwood

The crash blocked traffic for over an hour at 176th Street SW. The boy, 16, was arrested on felony warrants.

The view of Mountain Loop Mine out the window of a second floor classroom at Fairmount Elementary on Wednesday, Jan. 10, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
County: Everett mining yard violated order to halt work next to school

At least 10 reports accused OMA Construction of violating a stop-work order next to Fairmount Elementary. A judge will hear the case.

Imagine Children's Museum's incoming CEO, Elizabeth "Elee" Wood. (Photo provided by Imagine Children's Museum)
Imagine Children’s Museum in Everett to welcome new CEO

Nancy Johnson, who has led Imagine Children’s Museum in Everett for 25 years, will retire in June.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.