S.C. Residents Celebrate Senate Decision On Confederate Flag
A bill to lower the Confederate flag from the South Carolina State House passed the state's Senate on Tuesday. Outside unexpected celebrations took place in the form of a line dancing class.
KELLY MCEVERS, HOST:
After weeks of protests, hours of formal debate and still facing an uncertain future, a bill to remove the Confederate flag from South Carolina's Capitol grounds was approved by the state Senate today. It was a serious occasion inside the Statehouse. But Ben Bradford, of member station WFAE, found a different scene outside.
BEN BRADFORD, BYLINE: On the plaza between the entrance to the Capitol and the flagpole with the controversial flag, about a dozen middle-aged black women are line dancing.
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UNIDENTIFIED WOMAN: There you go.
BRADFORD: TV cameras quickly begin to circle, looking for revelry from supporters of the flag's removal. Chris Miller leads the dancers and he says that's not the intention.
CHRIS MILLER: When I chose to come down here, I honestly didn't know that today was what was going to happen today.
BRADFORD: They're a soul line dancing class from the local rec center. They came out for a change of scenery, but Revella Alston, an eight-year veteran of the class, says she's more than ready to celebrate.
REVELLA ALSTON: It's actually history making, and if they make the decision before we leave, we'll just be in the party mood.
BRADFORD: That decision didn't come today. The House still has to consider the measure. But for a brief moment, there was an impromptu celebration here on the Capitol grounds in the shadow of the Confederate flag. For NPR News, I'm Ben Bradford in Columbia.
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