COLUMBIA, S.C. — Democrat Senator Vincent Sheheen introduced the bill to take the rebel flag down from the state house grounds, and put it in a museum.
"i want to do this, because it's the right thing to do," Sheheen said, speaking from the senate floor Monday morning.
Sheheen made the flag a campaign issue during his run for governor, and Monday he reminded senators of that, saying Gov. Nicki Haley had mocked him for his stance at that time.
"The flag is part of our past. It's not part of our future," Sheheen said.
While Jesse Jackson watched from the balcony, the state senate voted 37-3 to remove the flag from the grounds. Senators will have to take a final vote Tuesday, before sending the bill to the House of Representatives.
"It could be on the governor's desk by Thursday or Friday," said York County's State Senator Wes Hayes. "I think it'll be pretty quick."
Outside the State House, a smaller crowd than usual chanted "Take it down!"
William Cheek stood near them, a flag supporter.
"It's for my ancestors who fought and died," Cheek said.
"It's not hate, these people down here on misinformed, or too stupid to read and understand that truth."
But others carried signs saying the flag was a racist symbol. To them, the causes of the Civil War don't matter today. They believe the flag stands in the way of equality.
"I think we should remove all symbols from the grounds that make people feel unwelcome, and like they don't matter," said Patrick Saucier.
Before the vote on the bill that Sen. Sheheen proposed, the Senate killed three different amendments. One would have put the flag issue to a public vote.
Another would fly the Confederate flag from the same place only one day a year, on May 10, Confederate Memorial Day. A third amendment would raise the confederate national flag known as the "stars and bars" instead of the battle flag. All three amendments failed to pass.
Several lawmakers spoke of their own ancestors who fought for the south, and why they want to honor them.
Senator Lee bright held up a book of names of confederate dead, and asked if the senate wanted to ignore the sacrifice they made for their state.
"There are 20,000 names in here. Your ancestors, my ancestors," bright said.
At the end of the day, only Sen. Bright, Harvey Peeler, and Danny Verdin voted to keep the flag flying at the state house.
The house could take up the bill by Wednesday.
Gov. Nikki Haley released the following statement Monday night:
“The South Carolina Senate today rose to this historic occasion, with a large majority of members from both parties coming together in the spirit of unity and healing that is binding our state back together and moving us forward in the right direction. I applaud the Senate’s
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