Following the examples of South Carolina and Virginia, Alabama’s GOP governor Robert Bentley ordered the removal of four Confederate flags flying at the state’s Capitol in Montgomery.
According to reports, the flags were removed at about 8:20 this morning. Bentley made it clear that the flags were removed in response to the massacre at a historic black church in Charleston on June 17.
“Yes, partially this is about that,” Bentley told AL.com. “This is the right thing to do. We are facing some major issues in this state regarding the budget and other matters that we need to deal with. This had the potential to become a major distraction as we go forward. I have taxes to raise, we have work to do. And it was my decision that the flag needed to come down.”
As expected, a few dinosaurs showed up to protest the decision.
Sons of Confederate Veterans hold their own Confederate flags outside Alabama Capitol. From @bethanyWSFA pic.twitter.com/f1Lm7iBlmm
— Melissa Johnson (@WSFA_MelissaJ) June 24, 2015
h/t and featured image: Gawker
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