The Confederate flag in front of the South Carolina Statehouse was removed by an African-American woman on Saturday. She was arrested by local authorities, and the flag was soon raised again.
The woman, identified as 30-year-old Bree Newsome of Raleigh, NC., was halfway up the 30-foot flagpole when State Capitol police told her to come down. Ignoring their calls, she continued up the pole and removed the flag.
“The flag is gone,” activist group Ferguson Action said on Twitter, congratulating “local organizers” for the operation.
She was arrested upon her return to the ground, along with another man, 30-year-old James Ian Tyson, who had also entered the wrought-iron fence surrounding the flag.
The two were charged with defacing a monument and face a fine of up to $5,000 or up to three years in prison, NBC reported.
The flag, which is protected by state law, was raised again a short time later. The incident occurred just after dawn on Saturday, hours before a rally by flag supporters was scheduled at the Capitol.
“The flag was replaced with a new flag within about an hour and no further damage was done,” a statement from officials said.
Rev. Jesse Jackson tweeted his support of Newsome’s actions, saying:“We thank God that Bree Newsome had the courage to take the flag down.”
We thank God that @BreeNewsome had the courage to take the flag down! #KeepItDown #FreeBree pic.twitter.com/AKXOu4kB0c
— Rev Jesse Jackson Sr (@RevJJackson) June 27, 2015
It comes less than one week after South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley said it was time for the Confederate flag to be removed from the Capitol building.
“Today, we are here in a moment of unity in our state, without ill-will, to say it’s time to move the flag from the Capitol grounds,” Haley announced at a press conference on Monday. “A hundred and fifty years after the Civil War, the time has come.”
“There will be a time for discussion and debate, but the time for action is coming soon,” she added.
Debate over the Confederate flag – which many associate with the years of slavery in the American South – has been reignited following the fatal shooting at an African-American church in Charleston last week. The shooter, 21-year-old Dylann Roof, had posed with the Confederate flag in photos posted on social media.
Since the shooting, a Charleston police officer was firedfor wearing Confederate flag boxer shorts in a Facebook photo. His police chief said the picture hampered the police force’s“ability to improve trust and instill confidence when working with our citizens.”
But the debate extends outside the state of South Carolina, reaching all the way to Capitol Hill. US lawmakers have opted to delay a decision on a proposal to remove symbols of the Confederacy from Congress.
Also in Washington, DC, the dean of the Washington National Cathedral said on Thursday that two stained glass windows at the Episcopal church that feature the Confederate flag should be removed.
One week ago, White House spokesman Eric Schultz reiterated President Obama’s views that the Confederate flag “belongs in a museum,” not waving in the air.
Meanwhile, Apple has pulled all apps that contain the Confederate flag from its Appstore. This follows decisions by other major retailers – including Walmart and eBay – to wipe Confederate flag merchandise from their shelves.
ahh, the clueless masses.
hint: ANY time Jesse Jackson is on your side, you’re on the wrong side. A kiss of death.
___
Brilliant.
Could not think far enough ahead to simply cut the rope that holds the flag to the pole instead of climbing up the frickin’ pole.
WHY LOOK AT THAT BRAVE LITTLE GIRL CLIMBING THAT TALL FLAGPOLE…..”BEAUREGAWD, PASS ME MY .22″………….
Whenever the Zionist media wants to hype up the racial war, that sack of crap Jesse Jackson rears his ugly face.
If a white person did this to the african flag or a straight person did it to the fag flag, the MSM would be all over it.
“LIberal author and film director Michael Moore offered on Twitter to pay her bail and legal fees.”
http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2015/06/27/south-carolina-confederate-flag-remove-activist-ferguson-action/29383973/
WHAT? She didn’t get tased or shot at?
In any case, this looks like a complete photo-op setup by the Commies. Just look at how the camera is all setup and the organizers are there. It’s all a show and production. If that was you or I, we’d be handcuffed on the ground, shot at or tased by a shitload of cops. This is nothing but a staged performance and broadcasted by your typical MSM.
Pathetic that they need to do this in order to gain support for their Commie acts. Hang ’em all! Especially the bitch who climbed the pole. Hang her on that same pole for treason. It would be fitting punishment for the crime.
I wonder if this was one of those pay for a crowd groups.
History books, the media, the school systems, etc., all abound in falsehoods and inaccuracies of Confederate and Southern history. This fact sheet will help to clarify and dispel some of these rampant inaccuracies.
MYTH – The War of 1861 – 1865 was fought over slavery.
FACT – Terribly untrue. The North fought the war over money. Plain and simple. When the South started Secession, Lincoln was asked, “Why not let the South go in peace?” To which he replied, “I can’t let them go. Who would pay for the government?” Sensing total financial ruin for the North, Lincoln waged war on the South. The South fought the War to repel Northern aggression and invasion.
MYTH – Only Southerners owned slaves.
FACT – Entirely untrue. Many Northern civilians owned slaves. Prior to, during and even after the War Of Northern Aggression.
Surprisingly, to many history impaired individuals, most Union Generals and staff had slaves to serve them! William T. Sherman had many slaves that served him until well after the war was over and did not free them until late in 1865.
U.S. Grant also had several slaves, who were only freed after the 13th amendment in December of 1865. When asked why he didn’t free his slaves earlier, Grant stated “Good help is so hard to come by these days.”
Contrarily, Confederate General Robert E. Lee freed his slaves (which he never purchased – they were inherited) in 1862!!! Lee freed his slaves several years before the war was over, and considerably earlier than his Northern counterparts. And during the fierce early days of the war when the South was obliterating the Yankee armies!
Lastly, and most importantly, why did NORTHERN States outlaw slavery only AFTER the war was over? The so-called “Emancipation Proclamation” of Lincoln only gave freedom to slaves in the SOUTH! NOT in the North! This pecksniffery even went so far as to find the state of Delaware rejecting the 13th Amendment in December of 1865 and did not ratify it (13th Amendment / free the slaves) until 1901!
MYTH – The Confederate Battle Flag was flown on slave ships.
FACT – NONE of the flags of the Confederacy or Southern Nation ever flew over a slave ship. Nor did the South own or operate any slaves ships. The English, the Dutch and the Portugese brought slaves to this country, not the Southern Nation.
BUT, even more monumental, it is also very important to know and understand that Federal, Yankee, Union ships brought slaves to America! These ships were from the New England states, and their hypocrisy is atrocious.
These Federals were ones that ended up crying the loudest about slavery. But without their ships, many of the slaves would have never arrived here. They made countless fortunes on the delivery of slaves as well as the products madefrom raw materials such as cotton and tobacco in the South.
This is the problem with Yankee history History is overwhelmingly portrayed incorrectly by most of the Federal & Yankee books and media.
MYTH – The Confederate Battle Flag represented the Southern Nation.
FACT – Not true. While the Southern Battle flag was carried into battle, the Southern Nation had 3 different National flags during the course of the war.
The First National flag was changed due to a resemblance of the US flag.
The Second National flag was subsequently modified due to the similarity to a flag of truce.
The Third National flag was the adopted flag of the Confederacy.
The Confederate Battle Flag was never a National Flag of the Confederacy. It was carried into battle by several armies such as the Army Of Northen Virginia and the Army of Tennessee. Was also used as a Naval Jack by the Confederate Navy.
MYTH – The Confederate Battle Flag is known as the “Stars & Bars”.
FACT – A common misconception. The First National Confederate Flag is correctly known as the “Stars & Bars”. The Confederate Battle Flag is known as the “Southern Cross”.
MYTH – The Confederate Battle Flag represents racism today.
FACT – The Confederate Battle Flag today finds itself in the center of much controversy and hoopla going on in several states. The cry to take this flag down is unjustified. It is very important to keep in mind that the Confederate Battle Flag was simply just that. A battle flag. It was never even a National flag, so how could it have flown over a slave nation or represented slavery or racism? This myth is continued by lack of education and ignorance. Those that villify the Confederate Battle Flag are very confused about history and have jumped upon a bandwagon with loose wheels.
MYTH – The United States Flag represented freedom.
FACT – No chance. The US flag flew over a slave nation for over 85 years! The North tolerated slavery and acknowledged it as a Division Of Labor. The North made a vast fortune on slavery and it’s commodities. It wasn’t until the South decided to leave the Union that the North objected. The North knew it could not survive without the Southern money. That is the true definition of hypocrisy.
MYTH – Abraham Lincoln was the Great Emancipator.
FACT – While Lincoln has went down in history as the Great Emancipator, many would not care to hear his real thoughts on people of color. Martyred President Abraham Lincoln was fervently making plans to send all freed slaves to the jungles of Central America once the war was over. Knowing that African society would never allow the slaves to return back to Africa, Lincoln also did not want the slaves in the US. He thought the jungles of Central America would be the best solution and conducive to the freed slaves best interest. The only thing that kept this from happening, was his assassination.
MYTH – The South revered slavery.
FACT – A very interesting fact on slavery is that at the time the War of 1861 -1865 officially commenced, the Southern States were actually in the process of freeing all slaves in the South. Russia had freed it’s servants in 1859, and the South took great note of this. Had military intervention not been forced upon the South, a very different America would have been realized then as well as now.
MYTH – The Confederate Army was comprised of rich slave owners.
FACT – Very far from true. The vast majority of soldiers in the Confederate Army were simple men of meager income. Most of which were hard working farmers and common men. Then, as now, very few rich men ever fight a war.
MYTH – Only the North had men of color in their ranks.
FACT – Quite simply a major falsehood of history. Many blacks, both free and of their own will, joined the Confederate Army to fight for their beloved Southern home. Additionally, men of other ethnic extraction fought as well. Oriental, Mexican & Spanish men as well as Native American Indians fought with pride for the South.
Today, many men of color are members in the heritage group SCV – Sons Of Confederate Veterans. These men of color and pride rejoice in their heritage. The continued attacks on the Southern Nation, The Confederacy, and her symbols are a terrible outrage to these fine people. These attacks should be denounced with as much fervor as those who denounce the South.
MYTH – The Confederate Flags are an authorized symbol of Aryan, KKK and hate groups.
FACT – Quite the contrary. These dispicable organizations such as the KKK and Aryans have taken a hallowed piece of history, and have plagued good Southern folks and the memories of fine Confederate Soldiers that fought under the flag with their perverse agenda. IN NO WAY does the Confederate Flag represent hate or violence. Heritage groups such as the SCV battle daily the damage done to a proud nation by these hate groups. The SCV denounces all hate groups, and pridefully boast HERITAGE – NOT HATE.
MYTH – The SCV – Sons Of Confederate Veterans are a racist, hate group.
FACT – This is a blatant attack on one of the finest heritage groups ever. The SCV – Sons Of Confederate Veterans are a historical, patriotic and non-political organization comprised of descendents of Confederate Soldiers and sailors dedicated to insuring that a true history of the 1861 -1865 period is preserved and presented to the public. The SCV continues to educate the public of the memory and reputation of the Confederate soldier as well as the motives for his suffering and sacrifice.
The SCV – Sons Of Confederate Veterans are in NO WAY affiliated with, nor does it recognize or condone the terrible legacy of hate groups such as the KKK.
WOW! Thanks for the info., Sunfire. I truly did not know alot of what you have stated. I was taught in the North, so you’ll have to excuse my ignorance on the REAL history of the South. While I was taught that the Civil War had absolutely nothing to do with slavery and that slavery was just a side issue, I did not know that the North even had slaves and used them in the army (which they NEVER taught me back in the day) and the fact that the Confederate Battle flag was not the National Flag of the South nor did I learn that Robert E Lee released his slaves before the war.
Anyways, after living in the South for the past few years, I have definitely learned the REAL nature of the Civil War and the lies that I was taught in school many years ago. Thanks for the comment. I will save it. I appreciate it.
As always, I learn something new everyday from this site.
I was raised in the north but have learned a lot about the Civil War through my own research. That’s why this whole flag issue is so damned irritating. Henry mentioned on a recent cast that General Lee freed his inherited slaves. The facts are out there for anyone to look up, the Internet is a treasure trove of information.
Excellent comment, Sunfire. Thank you. It deserves to stand alone as an article, especially as a sane counter to the propaganda and race baiting being perpetrated by the government and other communist forces, and deserves a reading on the broadcast, The Word From The Trenches.
Agreed.