A version of the Confederate flag that was pulled from the main courtroom in the renovated York County Courthouse will go back on display.
York County Clerk of Courts David Hamilton had removed the flag, believing he had the authority under state law to do so.
But on Friday, Hamilton said doing so would violate South Carolina’s Heritage Act, which states that the Confederate flag cannot be removed, changed or renamed on municipal, county or state property without a resolution by the South Carolina House and Senate.
Hamilton said he respects both the Heritage Act and the history of York County.
“It was not my intention to offend the citizens of York County, the state of South Carolina, or of the United States of America," Hamilton said.
In 2015, South Carolina removed the Confederate battle flag from its statehouse grounds. That move came after pictures surfaced showing Charleston church shooter Dylann Roof posing with the flag.
The Confederate flag, and five other historical flags, pictures of Confederate generals and other items will go back in the York County courtroom.