Rally at State House Against Confederate Flag

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Columbia , S.C. (WOLO) — On Tuesday afternoon, both the South Carolina House and Senate favorably voted to adopt resolutions to discuss the confederate flag debate during special session. “We‘re going to keep pushing until something is done, we do not need to wait until January, we can‘t wait until January,” said Representative Harold Mitchell. The vote came hours after hundreds rallied on the front lawn of the State House, urging legislatures to take swift action in removing the confederate flag from the capitol grounds. Some called it a symbol of hate and racism. “We have to break this heritage of hate, we have to break that cycle,” said Charleston resident Ruth Dombrowski. “That flag has always been a symbol of hatred to many of us in the world and for it to come down would be a start for us to heal as a state, as a nation, as a community,” said Joyce Gilliard. Several lawmakers joined the rally, encouraging citizens not to give up the fight in honor of the 9 victims in the Charleston church massacre. “Those 9 people, those 9 souls, we‘re to see they did not die in vein,” said Representative Wendell Gilliard. However, some counter-protesters at the rally argued the flag should remain, as a tribute to history and the soldiers who served in the civil war. “It’s heritage, it’s truly heritage,” said John Miller. As the decades old debate continues and the state continues to mourn, a community vows to keep fighting for change. “It is time for the Senate and the House to debate, and if they don‘t do it today, the word will be…we‘ll be back,” vowed one speaker at the rally.