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The South Carolina House of Representatives early Thursday approved a bill removing the Confederate flag from the Capitol grounds, just weeks after nine people – including a fellow legislator, state Sen. Clementa Pinckney – were killed at a historically black church in Charleston.
By all accounts, the key to the vote was a passionate speech by state Rep. Jenny Horne, a descendant of Jefferson Davis and 42-year-old lawyer. In an interview with The Washington Post after the vote, Horne said at the moment she took the podium, "we were losing the vote."
From her raw and tearful speech:
“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," she said, and then shouted: "And if any of you vote to amend, you are ensuring that this flag will fly beyond Friday. And for the widow of Sen. Pinckney and his two young daughters, that would be adding insult to injury, and I will not be a part of it."
And later: "I am sorry. I have heard enough about heritage."
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>> PHOTOS: South Carolina House OKs removing Confederate flag after heated debate
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