Held for nine murders in Charleston, South Carolina, Dylann Roof has also fired up passions in the United States over the flying of a southern battle flag.
It dates from Civil War America’s Confederate States, whose cornerstone was “that the Negro is not equal to the white man” — in the words of 1861 Confederate Vice President Alexander Stephens.
The Southern cross — a dark blue saltire studded with 13 white stars, against a red background — may be a symbol of pride to many, but to protesting rights advocates that pride is misplaced.
Cornell William Brooks, NAACP President, speaking at a peaceful demonstration in Columbia, SC, said: “When we see that symbol lifted up as an emblem of hate, as a tool of hate, as an inspiration for hate, as an inspiration for violence, that symbol has to come down! That symbol must be removed from our state capital!”
South Carolina is the only state that still flies the traditional battle flag just in front of the state government building, next
