A woman, whose been identified as Brittany “Bree” Newsome, was taken into custody Saturday morning after climbing the flagpole at the South Carolina Statehouse, in Columbia, S.C, to remove the Confederate flag.
The incident is said to have occurred at approximately 6:30 am this morning.
Bree, who is also a writer, producer, speaker, singer and songwriter, declares, “We removed the flag today because we can’t wait any longer,” in a press release issued following her arrest. “We can’t continue like this another day. It’s time for a new chapter where we are sincere about dismantling white supremacy and building toward true racial justice and equality,” Newsome adds.
The flag was ordered to be raised again by 8:30 am.
The initiative to remove the Confederate flag was heighten by the mass killing of eight black church attendees and Pastor Clementa Pinckney at the Charleston, South Carolina Emanuel AME church, last week, at the hands of Dylann Roof. Roof, a white 21 year old man, past exemplifies that of a racist.
According to The Root, Rashad Robinson, executive director of ColorOfChange.org, and whose campaign to remove the flag has garnered over 55,000 signatures, has since openly supported the activist.
“The confederate flag was born out of a government defending the enslavement of Black people and resurrected as an emblem for whites violently opposing racial integration,” Robinson said in the statement. “Any government that recognizes the flag is declaring that it cherishes a history of racial terror. This flag sends a horrible message about what our country was and a reminder of what we can still be. The flag is down now, we should keep it down, and any charges against these activists should be dropped immediately.”
A second person, whose identity has not be revealed, is also said to have been arrested.
What are your thoughts CK readers, do you also support the activist’s initiatives?
