An emotional speech by a descendant of Jefferson Davis Wednesday helped convince the South Carolina House to remove the Confederate flag from the Capitol grounds.
“I cannot believe that we do not have the heart in this body to do something meaningful such as take a symbol of hate off these grounds on Friday,” Rep. Jenny Horne said. Horne’s ancestor, Jefferson Davis, was the president of the Confederacy.
“For the widow of Sen. Pinckney and his two young daughters, that would be adding insult to injury,” she yelled, fighting back tears.
Pinckney, a state senator, was one of nine victims in a racially-motivated shooting at a black church in Charleston on June 17. The shooting set off a contentious debate about the role of the Confederate flag in modern society, specifically about its place at the South Carolina State House. The state House voted at 1 am Thursday morning to remove the flag.
See the Funeral Service of Rev. Clementa Pinckney in Charleston
Doris Simmons, of Charleston, stands across the street from Emanuel AME Church, the scene of last week's mass shooting, as the sun rises in Charleston, S.C. on June 26, 2015.David Goldman—APWomen dressed in white wait to enter the funeral service for Rev. Clementa Pinckney outside Emanuel AME Church in Charleston, S.C. on June 26, 2015.Win McNamee—Getty ImagesMembers of the clergy wait to enter the funeral service for Rev. Clementa Pinckney in Charleston, S.C. on June 26, 2015.Win McNamee—Getty ImagesPeople wait in line to enter the funeral service Rev. Clementa Pinckney in Charleston, S.C. on June 26, 2015.Win McNamee—Getty ImagesPeople watch as the hearse carrying Rev. Clementa Pinckney passes by as they line up to enter the College of Charleston TD Arena where his funeral service will be held in Charleston, S.C. on June 26, 2015.Joe Raedle—Getty ImagesMembers of the clergy wait to enter the funeral service for Rev. Clementa Pinckney in Charleston, S.C. on June 26, 2015.Win McNamee—Getty ImagesMourners attend the funeral of Rev. Clementa Pinckney at College of Charleston TD Arena in Charleston, S.C. on June 26, 2015.Joe Raedle—Getty ImagesPresident Barack Obama sings Amazing Grace during the eulogy at the funeral of Rev. Clementa Pinckney at the TD Arena in Charleston, S.C. on June 26, 2015.Richard Ellis—EPAThe wife of Rev. Clementa Pickney, Jennifer, stands with their daughters Malana and Eliana before President Barack Obama delivers the eulogy during the funeral of Clementa Pickney, at the College of Charleston TD Arena, in Charleston, S.C. on June 26, 2015. Mandel Ngan—AFP/Getty Images
