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Confederate flag comes down in South Carolina Confederate flag comes down in South Carolina
(about 5 hours later)
It had been there for 54 years. In the end, it came down in a matter of minutes. The Confederate flag is no longer flying at the State House in Columbia, South Carolina.
Thousands of people watched on Friday morning to witness an event that would have been all but unimaginable just a few weeks ago - the removal of the Confederate flag from ouside the South Carolina state house. The flag was removed in a  ceremony this morning after a flurry of legislative activity this week in South Carolina that resulted in a huge win for opponents of the banner.
The move followed a flurry of legislative activity this week in South Carolina that resulted in a huge win for opponents of the banner.
Thousands gathered to watch the event
The state Senate passed a bill calling for the removal of the Confederate flag on Tuesday and the House followed suit early Thursday morning.The state Senate passed a bill calling for the removal of the Confederate flag on Tuesday and the House followed suit early Thursday morning.
Governor Nikki Haley signed the bill on Thursday afternoon and held a lowering ceremony this morning at the State House.Governor Nikki Haley signed the bill on Thursday afternoon and held a lowering ceremony this morning at the State House.
When signing the bill, she said the flag would be lowered with dignity, but the ceremony had more than a hint of celebration.When signing the bill, she said the flag would be lowered with dignity, but the ceremony had more than a hint of celebration.
Calls for the Confederate flag to come down grew after the massacre at a Charleston church that left nine black parishioners dead. Dylann Roof, a white man, has been charged with nine counts of murder. Calls for the Confederate flag to come down grew after the massacre at a Charleston church that left nine black parishioners dead. Dylann Roof, a white man, has confessed to the shooting.
Crowds chant 'USA' and sing 'Na Na Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye' as Confederate flag is removed in S.C. http://t.co/5pO5CvNqVP
After the shooting, Mr Roof, who has been charged with the nine murders, surfaced in a number of photos displaying the Confederate flag as a symbol of racist hate.After the shooting, Mr Roof, who has been charged with the nine murders, surfaced in a number of photos displaying the Confederate flag as a symbol of racist hate.
That symbol will no longer fly on the ground of the State House and will be moved to the state’s Confederate Relic Room and Military Museum just down the street.That symbol will no longer fly on the ground of the State House and will be moved to the state’s Confederate Relic Room and Military Museum just down the street.
  
Follow @PaytonGuion on Twitter.Follow @PaytonGuion on Twitter.