Photos: Confederate flag comes down in S. Carolina

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The Confederate flag was lowered from the grounds of the South Carolina Statehouse to the cheers of thousands on Friday, ending its 54-year presence there and marking a stunning political reversal in a state where many thought the rebel banner would fly indefinitely.

Members of the South Carolina State Police remove the Confederate battle flag from the grounds of the State House in Columbia, S.C., the morning of July 10, 2015. Closing a chapter on a symbol of the Deep South and its history of resistance and racial animus, the state on Friday lowered the flag from where it had flown for more than 50 years. (Travis Dove/The New York Times)

A crowd watches after a South Carolina honor guard lowers the Confederate flag from the Statehouse grounds on July 10, 2015 in Columbia, South Carolina. Republican Governor Nikki Haley presided over the event after signing the historic legislation to remove the flag the day before. (Photo by John Moore/Getty Images)

People watch to see the Confederate "Stars and Bars" flag lowered from the South Carolina Statehouse grounds for the last time on July 10, 2015 in Columbia, South Carolina. Republican Governor Nikki Haley presided over the event after signing historic legislation to remove the flag the day before. (Photo by John Moore/Getty Images)

People cheer as an honor guard from the South Carolina Highway patrol removes the Confederate battle flag from the Capitol grounds Friday, July 10, 2015, in Columbia, S.C. The Confederate flag was lowered from the grounds of the South Carolina Statehouse to the cheers of thousands on Friday, ending its 54-year presence there and marking a stunning political reversal in a state where many thought the rebel banner would fly indefinitely. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)

A girl watches from a crowd to see the Confederate "Stars and Bars" flag lowered from the South Carolina Statehouse grounds for the last time on July 10, 2015 in Columbia, South Carolina. Republican Governor Nikki Haley presided over the event after signing historic legislation to remove the flag the day before. (Photo by John Moore/Getty Images)

John Blankenship, of Granite Falls, N.C., wears a rebel flag themed hat as he waits for the Confederate battle flag to be removed from the grounds of the State House in Columbia, S.C., the morning of July 10, 2015. In a historic moment for South Carolina, the flag is set to be removed from its 30-foot pole on Friday morning. (Stephen B. Morton/The New York Times)

An honor guard from the South Carolina Highway patrol removes the Confederate battle flag from the Capitol grounds Friday, July 10, 2015, in Columbia, S.C. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)

A crowd celebrates after a South Carolina honor guard lowered the Confederate flag from the Statehouse grounds for the last time on July 10, 2015 in Columbia, South Carolina. Republican Governor Nikki Haley presided over the event after signing the historic legislation to remove the flag the day before. (Photo by John Moore/Getty Images)

South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley applauds after an honor guard lowered the Confederate "Stars and Bars" flag from the South Carolina Statehouse grounds for the last time on July 10, 2015 in Columbia, South Carolina. The governor presided over the event after signing historic legislation to remove the flag the day before. (Photo by John Moore/Getty Images)

The curator of the South Carolina Confederate Relic Room and Military Museum carries the Confederate Battle flag that flew in front of the South Carolina Statehouse past family members of people killed in a mass shooting at Emanuel AME Church in Charleston, S.C., as it is removed from the Capitol grounds Friday, July 10, 2015, in Columbia, S.C. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)

A crowd cheers and takes photos as members of the South Carolina State Police remove the Confederate battle flag from the grounds of the State House in Columbia, S.C., the morning of July 10, 2015. Closing a chapter on a symbol of the Deep South and its history of resistance and racial animus, the state on Friday lowered the flag from where it had flown for more than 50 years. (Stephen B. Morton/The New York Times)

The Confederate battle flag flies on the grounds of the State House in Columbia, S.C., the morning of July 10, 2015. Closing a chapter on a symbol of the Deep South and its history of resistance and racial animus, the state on Friday lowered the flag from where it had flown for more than 50 years. (Travis Dove/The New York Times)

An honor guard from the South Carolina Highway patrol removes the Confederate battle flag from the Capitol grounds in Columbia, S.C., Friday, July 10, 2015, ending its 54-year presence there. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)

FILE - In this July 19, 2011, file photo, Confederate battle flags fly outside the museum at the Confederate Memorial Park in Mountain Creek, Ala. The Confederate battle flag has been removed from South Carolina's Statehouse grounds, in the wake of the massacre of nine African-Americans, including a state senator, at an historic black church in Charleston in June 2015. (AP Photo/Dave Martin, File)

An honor guard from the South Carolina Highway patrol removes the Confederate battle flag from the Capitol grounds in Columbia, S.C., ending its 54-year presence there, on Friday, July 10, 2015. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)

Gov. Nikki Haley, left, talks interim pastor of Emanuel A.M.E. Church, the Rev. Norvel Goff, center, on the steps the State House before officials remove the Confederate battle flag from its grounds in Columbia, S.C., the morning of July 10, 2015. In a historic moment for South Carolina, the flag is set to be removed from its 30-foot pole on Friday morning. (Stephen B. Morton/The New York Times)

Gov. Nikki Haley , center, in white, stands on the steps of the State House before participating in the removal of the Confederate battle flag the government complex's grounds, in Columbia, S.C., July 10, 2015. In a historic moment for South Carolina, the flag is set to be removed from a 30-foot pole on Friday morning. (Stephen B. Morton/The New York Times)

The Confederate battle flag flies on the grounds of the State House in Columbia, S.C., the morning of July 10, 2015. In a historic moment for South Carolina, the flag is set to be removed from its 30-foot pole on Friday morning. (Stephen B. Morton/The New York Times)

Bernard Jackson, right, in blue shirt, steps back to look at his painting of a Union soldier in front of a captured rebel flag, near the State House where a Confederate battle flag was due to be removed that morning, in Columbia, S.C., July 10, 2015. In a historic moment for South Carolina, the flag is set to be removed from its 30-foot pole on Friday morning. (Travis Dove/The New York Times)

Tom Clements holds up a sign as he waits for the Confederate battle flag to be removed from the grounds of the State House in Columbia, S.C., the morning of July 10, 2015. In a historic moment for South Carolina, the flag is set to be removed from its 30-foot pole on Friday morning. (Stephen B. Morton/The New York Times)

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Members of the South Carolina State Police remove the Confederate battle flag from the grounds of the State House in Columbia, S.C., the morning of July 10, 2015. Closing a chapter on a symbol of the Deep South and its history of resistance and racial animus, the state on Friday lowered the flag from where it had flown for more than 50 years. (Travis Dove/The New York Times)

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