Early this morning, and after nearly 13 hours of debates and proposed amendments, the South Carolina House of Representatives voted 94-20 to pass a bill that will remove the Confederate flag that flies above the Statehouse. The bill will now move to the desk of South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, who is expected to quickly pass the bill.
It was during that session that Republican state Rep Jenny Horne gave a 4-minute, impassioned, emotional speech about why the flag should be removed. Horne dismissed the argument of heritage, claiming that she is a descendant of Confederate President Jefferson Davis. Choking back tears, she names all the people dear to her that the flag offends, powerfully stating, “I cannot believe that we do not have the heart, in this body, to do something meaningful, such as take a symbol of hate off these grounds Friday.”
We’ve heard a lot of rhetoric as to the real meaning behind the Confederate flag since the tragedy in South Carolina last month, but few statements come close to Horne’s. After Friday, the flag will move to South Carolina’s Confederate Relic Room and Military Museum.
It wasn't easy. It wasn't without emotion. But I'm so proud of my colleagues for doing the right thing. The Confederate flag is coming down.
— Jenny Horne (@JennyHorne) July 9, 2015
94-20 #SChouse votes Third Reading sends bill to @nikkihaley to remove the #ConfederateFlag from @SCStatehouse pic.twitter.com/X9JU6eEsAt
— James Smith (@JamesSmithSC) July 9, 2015
(Via Mic.com)