Confederate flag removed from South Carolina Capitol

The Confederate flag was removed this morning from the South Carolina state Capitol grounds. The removal follows the June 17 massacre of nine people at a historic black church in Charleston.

The flag, which represents both racism and southern pride, was initially raised more than 50 years ago during the United States civil rights movement. It was taken down at 10 a.m. today in front of a crowd of locals, according to The New York Times.

South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley called for the flag to be taken down following the deadly shooting that occurred at Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church. The shooter, 21-year-old Dylann Roof, posted photographs online of himself with a Confederate flag prior to committing the crime.

The flag will be moved to the Relic Room of the South Carolina State Museum in the state capital of Columbia. It will be placed with several other artifacts that belonged to Confederate soldiers.

President Barack Obama tweeted that the flag's removal is a "meaningful step towards a better future."

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