South Carolina Rep. Jim Clyburn, D-S.C., called the Confederate flag “a flag of rebellion” and said that South Carolina should remove “the battle flag of the Confederacy.”
Appearing on NBC’s “Meet the Press,” Clyburn argued that “people get emboldened” when they see the Confederate flag flying, adding: “You’re certainly creating a climate to allow this kind of thing to happen.” He said the flag’s history as the flag of the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia makes it an inspiration for violence.
Debate over Confederate flag’s flying at the state’s capitol buildings in the wake of last week’s mass shooting in Charleston, S.C., dominated the Sunday morning talk shows.
Dylann Storm Roof, the white 21-year-old charged in the Wednesday shooting at the predominantly black church, allegedly uttered racial epithets before killing the nine black church members, and had numerous photos posing with the Confederate flag.
Clyburn said Sunday state lawmakers could easily change the law that requires a majority of the legislature approve the raising or lowering of the flag, and simply vote to remove the flag entirely. He said: “It just takes a simple majority to get rid of that law.”
