Hillary Clinton called for the Confederate flag to come down at the Citadel, a South Carolina military college, on Friday.
“Symbols of hate create more hate. It’s time for the Confederate flag to come down at the Citadel,” Clinton tweeted is response to a statement from the Hillary for America South Carolina director.
Symbols of hate create more hate. It’s time for the Confederate flag to come down at The Citadel. -H https://t.co/OFkRmc1LiI
— Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) December 11, 2015
On Thursday, the military suspended eight cadets after they appeared in photos wearing costumes that resembled those worn by the Klu Klux Klan. The Citadel is a state-supported college founded in 1842 in Charleston.
“Diversity and inclusion must not just be an office, but rather it must reflect a culture of awareess and respect,” Hillary for America S.C. State Director and Citadel alum Clay Middleton wrote in a statement. “Racism on campus is an ugly but real truth facing students at colleges across the country. Disturbing incidents like this push intolerance to the surface. ”
During the campaign, Clinton met with Black Lives Matter activists and spoke out about racial justice at African-Americans for Hillary events. In July, she applauded the South Carolina legislature’s decision to take the flag down over the South Carolina state house.
Clinton lost the 2008 South Carolina Democratic primary to Barack Obama because she did poorly among black voters, a problem that cost her the nomination. She is heavily favored in South Carolina and among black Democrats nationally this time around.
