Hundreds Protest Confederate Flag In S.C.

Ahead of a General Assembly meeting Tuesday, hundreds gathered outside of the South Carolina statehouse to protest the Confederate flag that still flies on the Capitol grounds. The peaceful gathering furthered days of "Take it Down" protests that erupted after the horrific mass killing in Charleston last week. The protest preceded the 1 p.m. meeting where lawmakers will consider amending the agenda to allow a vote to take the flag down.

Lawmakers and clergy addressed the crowd, echoing statements made by South Carolina's Gov. Nikki Haley and both of the state's senators for the flag to come down. And fast. The General Assembly would need a two-thirds vote to bring the racist symbol down for good.

Charleston's Post and Courier has been interviewing lawmakers, asking how they would vote on the issue if it was added to the agenda. As of Tuesday afternoon, 49 House members said they would vote to take the flag down, 8 said they would keep it and 47 had not responded. In the Senate, 19 said yes, 1 said no and 18 had not decided.

From the photos, the overwhelming majority of the protesters called for the flag's removal. There was, however, at least one group who wanted it to stay.

Tuesday's protest continued days of the "Take it Down" gatherings in the aftermath of the shooting at Emanuel AME church. The flag has been flying on a monument since 2000, but before that if flew atop the Capitol dome for four decades.