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Confederate Flag To Be Taken Down Friday From S.C. Capitol Grounds

07.09.15 | 11:19 am

Protesters hold a sign during a rally to take down the Confederate flag at the South Carolina Statehouse, Tuesday, June 23, 2015, in Columbia, S.C. For years, South Carolina lawmakers refused to revisit the Confedera... Protesters hold a sign during a rally to take down the Confederate flag at the South Carolina Statehouse, Tuesday, June 23, 2015, in Columbia, S.C. For years, South Carolina lawmakers refused to revisit the Confederate flag on Statehouse grounds, saying the law that took it off the dome was a bipartisan compromise, and renewing the debate would unnecessarily expose divisive wounds. The shooting deaths of nine people at a black church in Charleston, S.C., have reignited calls for the Confederate flag flying on the grounds of the Statehouse in Columbia to come down. (AP Photo/Rainier Ehrhardt) MORE LESS

The Confederate flag is scheduled to be taken down Friday morning from the grounds of the South Carolina state Capitol, ending weeks of debate over whether or not the flag should be allowed to fly there following the horrific shooting of nine black churchgoers in Charleston.

The state House early Thursday morning approved a bill removing the flag by a two-thirds margin. Gov. Nikki Haley (R) is now expected to sign that bill at 4 p.m. ET, according to spokesman Rob Godfrey:

.@NikkiHaley will hold a bill signing ceremony in 2nd floor lobby of the Statehouse – between the chambers – at 4 PM. #goandtell10people

— Rob Godfrey (@RobGodfrey) July 9, 2015

Once the governor signs the bill at 4 PM, the next step in the process will be to lower the Confederate battle flag at 10 AM on Friday.

— Rob Godfrey (@RobGodfrey) July 9, 2015

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