Watch: Confederate Flag Controversy Hits Capitol Hill

Columbia, S.C. (WOLO) — South Carolinians stand by the decision to remove the Confederate flag from state house grounds.

According to the latest Winthrop poll 57% of whites and 87% of African Americans remain in favor of the flag’s removal.

But there’s a new battle brewing over the iconic emblem.

The Confederate flag will continue flying at the Citadel despite the efforts of Representative James Clyburn.

In a statement Clyburn said he strongly supports an amendment that would stop federal funding for senior ROTC programs at institutions where the flag is displayed.

The Citadel is the only school included in that category.

Results from the latest Winthrop poll also show that South Carolina African American’s feel that racism is the most important problem facing the country.

NAACP president Lonnie Randolph says hateful symbols play a large role in the state’s race relations.

Randolph explains, “Unfortunately, many people say it has nothing to do with hate, it’s our heritage. Then you need to look at that heritage. I don’t have a heritage that hates people my heritage is one that’s about unifying people.”

In a statement released by The Citadel the college says its board of visitors voted to remove the flag from the Summerall Chapel last June however because the flag is considered a historical monument it cannot be removed under a law passed by the general assembly in 2000.

The college adds that the amendment would be a crippling blow as they would lose $8 million in funding.