On the recordJuly 9, 2015
Following the horrific murder of nine of my constituents during their Bible study class at Mother Emanuel AME Church in Charleston, many Members of this body came to Charleston to help celebrate the life and legacy of Reverend Senator Clementa Pinckney. I thank the Speaker of the House and the bipartisan delegation for coming, showing their concern. And I thank the Governor of South Carolina for calling for the removal of the Confederate battle flag from the State house grounds. At 4 o'clock this afternoon, she is going to sign the bill, which passed this morning around 1:30 a.m. by a vote of 94-20, to remove that flag from the State house grounds. Tomorrow morning at 10 o'clock, they will remove that flag. I cannot believe that today we have been asked to condone a backward step. Why we in this body would do such is beyond me. ____________________
