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S Carolina House debates Confederate flag removal S Carolina House debates Confederate flag removal
(about 7 hours later)
The South Carolina House has started debate on a bill that would remove the Confederate battle flag from the grounds of the state capitol. The South Carolina House has rejected a series of amendments to a bill that would remove the Confederate battle flag from the state capitol grounds.
Lawmakers have proposed dozens of amendments to the bill, which overwhelmingly passed the state senate. Republicans proposed dozens of changes to slow the passage of the bill, which overwhelmingly passed the state senate.
It was put forward after the flag was linked to a gunman who killed nine people at a Charleston church in June. At a private meeting, South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley urged fellow Republicans to remove the flag.
South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley supports removing the flag, which could come down as early as Friday. The backlash against the emblem grew when a gunman killed nine people at a Charleston church last month.
But the House amendments could complicate that effort. Dylann Roof, the 21-year-old charged with the killings, was pictured flying the flag.
The flag was originally the battle flag of the southern states in the American Civil War when they tried to break away. It was originally the battle flag of the southern states in the American Civil War when they tried to break away.
The debate over its use was reignited after Dylann Roof, the 21-year-old charged with killing nine black people on 17 June, was pictured flying the flag.
The flag is seen by some as an icon of slavery and racism while others say it symbolises US heritage and history.The flag is seen by some as an icon of slavery and racism while others say it symbolises US heritage and history.
Some of the amendments focused replacing the flag with other less contentious symbols of Confederacy. Another proposed having voters decide whether the flag should come down. Some of the amendments focused on replacing the flag with other less contentious symbols of Confederacy. Another proposed having voters decide whether the flag should come down.
However, some amendments appeared designed to make political points such as a plan to fly the US flag upside down over the capitol or a proposal to remove all monuments and memorials from the capitol building.However, some amendments appeared designed to make political points such as a plan to fly the US flag upside down over the capitol or a proposal to remove all monuments and memorials from the capitol building.
Representative Mike Pitts alone submitted 54 amendments to the bill. Some his amendments have already been withdrawn. One Republican proposed replacing the flag with a white flag of surrender, to symbolise his party's stance.
Meanwhile, authorities were investigating death threats made against multiple lawmakers ahead of the vote. "I don't have a picture, but it would look like this," Christopher Corley told the chamber, waving a small white flag.
South Carolina State Police Chief Mark Keel did not name the lawmakers who had been threatened. Representative Mike Pitts alone submitted 54 amendments to the bill. Some of his amendments have already been withdrawn.
Since the church killings, a number of other US states have taken action to remove flags from state property.
And large nationwide retailers have cleared their shelves of items bearing the emblem.