USA rights group ends S. Carolina boycott after flag removed

“It symbolizes our freedom, we want to show that not everybody who flies this flag are bad people”, said flag supporter David Croxton, “We just want to get along with everybody and we are here for a good cause”.

The Confederate flag was raised atop the South Carolina State House dome in 1961 as part of centennial commemorations of the American Civil War.

Republican Gov. Nikki Haley, who has been the target of intense criticism by Democrats since her election in 2010, has been a symbol of unity on the flag issue.

South Carolina highway patrol honor guard marched to the flag, before entering the gate surrounding it to cheers that erupted as they used a lever to wind down the flag.

Pictures emerged of suspect Dylann Roof – who is facing nine counts of murder – waving the flag.

Mr Obama last month delivered a eulogy at the funeral of Mr Pinckney.

The Confederate battle flag, flown by forces of the Southern states during the 1861-1865 Civil War, once again became a controversial symbol after the Charleston killings.

“Removal of the confederate flag is not going to solve most of the severe tangible challenges facing our nation, including discrimination in our criminal justice system, economic system, employment, education, housing, health care, or other barriers”.

The future of the flag was thrust back into the limelight after nine black people were shot dead in a church in Charleston, South Carolina on 17 June this year. Critics said its placement was a sign of opposition by politicians to the black civil rights movement at the time.

Patsy Eaddy, a black woman, said there was a “sense of embarrassment” of seeing the flag still flying. It moved quickly through the state senate, but was subject to 13 hours of contentious debate in the house, where it passed just after 1am on Thursday.

Now, the organizations that had imposed economic boycotts on South Carolina for flying the flag are reevaluating their stance on the state after its removal. “I’m grateful for their service and their compassion”.