South Carolina residents and politicians have been calling for the removal of the Confederate Flag from the State Capitol following the mass shooting of nine parishioners at Emanuel AME church.
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Activist Brittany ‘Bree’ Newsome recently climbed the flag pole at the South Carolina Statehouse and removed the historic symbol of White Supremacy. She along with colleague James Ian Tyson were promptly arrested.
What. A. Badass. #FreeBree pic.twitter.com/wgd7ibTrkP
— badass woman alert (@badass_w) June 27, 2015
Photos of Newsome’s bold act have been trending across social media via the has tags #KeepItDown and #FreeBree.
Booking photos of two the people arrested for taking down flag. pic.twitter.com/4fxqKPPVIh
— News 19 WLTX (@WLTX) June 27, 2015
She has gained a surprising ally in filmmaker Michael Moore “…Friends of @BreeNewsome – I will pay her bail money or any legal fees she has. Please let her know this†he tweeted.
Friends of @BreeNewsome – I will pay her bail money or any legal fees she has. Please let her know this. #Charleston #TakeDownTheFlag
— Michael Moore (@MMFlint) June 27, 2015
According to the International Business Times, Rev. Jesse Jackson has publicly shared he support for Newsome and her release.
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Representative Doug Brannon, close friend of Sen. Clementa Pinckney, former pastor of Emanuel AME and one of the victims of the shooting, has said that he will introduce a bill to remove the flag.
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At a recent press conference, South Carolina governor, Nikki Haley was in concurrence that the flag should be removed. However, in order for the official removal process to take place, it must be approved by two-thirds majorities in both chambers of the South Carolina Legislature.