Petition to Remove Confederate Flag from South Carolina State House

Confederate flag flying over South Carolina state house

On Wednesday night, nine people died as a result of domestic terrorism in South Carolina. Dylan Roof, walked into Emanuel AME Church as sat for a hour before opening fire and killing nine people.

The ages of the victims that lost their lives ranged from 26 to 87. Roof had a history of supporting the confederacy as well as apartheid patching on his clothing. 

The government has already declared that Roof alleged actions were a hate crime. A day after the shooting the Confederate flag is still flying high at the South Carolina capital building. Nikki Haley, the governor of South Carolina ordered flags to be flown at half-staff but this did not apply to the confederate flag which still was on full staff.   

The Confederate flag was a flag founded from 1861-1865, during the Civil War, in the Confederate State of America. Although, some argue that the flag is to represent southern values and heritage. 

A writer, Zach Beauchamp, at Vox.com notes that is simply an insult to the victims

This is more than just an awkward juxtaposition. As Cornell historian Edward Baptist explains in a series of chilling tweets, the Confederate flag isn't just a symbol of the pro-slavery rebellion, it's also a symbol of post-Civil War white supremacy — including the KKK and other groups that expressed that supremacy violently, at times by attacking black churches. That it's flying today, after what Charleston police are describing as a hate crime, is profoundly ugly.

A petition has begun on moveon.org to "Remove the Confederate Flag From All Government Places". The petition, which has already amassed more than 130,000 signatures since its launch. The petition is set to be delivered to the South Carolina state house, the state senate ,and Gov. Nikki Haley. 

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Written By: Lauren B. I @laurenbeal