Tempers flared today during counter-protests over the Confederate flag at the South Carolina state house in Columbia just as the Ku Klux Klan was announcing plans for a pro-flag rally in the capitol city.
Klan members have filed a permit for a rally Saturday, July 18, at the state house to protest the proposed removal of the Confederate flag, according to The Post & Courier.
In response to the plan, South Carolina governor Nikki Haley issued a statement saying of the Klan: "This is our state, and they are not welcome."
#SC Gov. @nikkihaley on KKK planning Confederate flag rally: "This is our state, and they are not welcome."— Stacy Jacobson (@StacyJacobsonTV) June 29, 2015
Meanwhile, confrontations arose in Columbia around the Confederate flag. Earlier today, a fight broke out when a protester grabbed a flag off of a passing truck, upsetting the driver and prompting law enforcement officials to get involved.
Fights breaking out. (Explicit language) @WLTX pic.twitter.com/x4aGIAvKke— Savannah Levins (@LevinsReports) June 29, 2015
Violence in Columbia #ConfederateFlag pic.twitter.com/HMd8T0fp14— Brian Harmon (@cbdharmon) June 29, 2015
"Hold that line. Do not show aggression." pic.twitter.com/7Jw4AZcczg— Savannah Levins (@LevinsReports) June 29, 2015
Eventually, cooler heads prevailed but it was hardly the only confrontation in the ongoing debate.
Both sides of debate join in prayer pic.twitter.com/usHEgZUkXB— Savannah Levins (@LevinsReports) June 30, 2015
A group is preparing to drive from Irmo to Columbia to circle the State House with confederate flags. @WLTX pic.twitter.com/ZIYY72Kd4T— Savannah Levins (@LevinsReports) June 29, 2015
Gervais St. from Sumter St. to Assembly St. still blocked after fight over #ConfederateFlag. #sctweets #wis10 pic.twitter.com/aRSaKFbptl— Chad Mills (@ChadMillsWIS) June 30, 2015
Earlier today, Bree Newsome, the woman who climbed the flagpole at the state house on Saturday to take down the Confederate flag, made her first public statements about her actions. "For far too long, white supremacy has dominated the politics of America resulting in the creation of racist laws and cultural practices designed to subjugate non-whites," she wrote, calling the rebel flag the symbol of that systemic racism.
The Post & Courier released results of a survey of South Carolina lawmakers showing there was enough support for taking down the flag to approve Gov. Haley's proposal.
According to our poll, there is now 2/3rds support in both chambers for removing the flag http://t.co/JMtM0I82eu pic.twitter.com/HxpVk2o0cg— Jason Emory Parker (@jaspar) June 29, 2015
The South Carolina legislature will next convene on Monday, July 6.