NEW YORK -- The Confederate flag, which has been part of the landscape of the South Carolina statehouse for more than half a decade, is to come down following an emotion plea by a Republican representative during a charged debate on Wednesday in the state capital Columbia.
Jenny Horne spoke for only four minutes, but explained to her colleagues why it was important that the symbol of white supremacy should be removed. Distraught with tears, Horne reminded her fellow representatives that she was a descendent of Confederate President Jefferson Davis and was proud of her heritage, yet chastised fellow Republicans for stalling the debate with a raft of amendments.
"For the widow of Senator [Clementa] Pinckney and his two young daughters, that would be adding insult to injury and I will not be a part of it!" she shouted at the chamber. According to AP, Horne said later hadn’t intended to speak but was frustrated with her fellow Republicans.
Watch Horne's full speech below:
A bill to pull down the flag passed in the early hours of Thursday morning, with the legislation likely to be signed on Thursday by Republican Governor Nikki Haley.
Last month, nine churchgoers in Charleston, South Carolina, including state Senator Pinckney, were killed at the historic Emanuel African Episcopal Church. Pictures of suspected gunman Dylan Roof, which were subsequently made public, showed the 21-year-old draped in a Confederate flag.
Charleston Shooting
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Open Image ModalLisa Doctor joins a prayer circle down the street from the Emanuel AME Church early Thursday, June 18, 2015 following a shooting Wednesday night in Charleston, S.C. (AP Photo/David Goldman) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
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Open Image ModalWorshippers gather to pray in a hotel parking lot across the street from the scene of the shooting. (AP Photo/David Goldman) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
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Open Image ModalThe steeple of Emanuel AME Church is visible as police close off a section of Calhoun Street (AP Photo/David Goldman) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
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Open Image ModalPolice stand outside the Emanuel AME Church following the shooting (AP Photo/David Goldman) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
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Open Image ModalAn FBI agent walks across the street from the Emanuel AME Church following the shooting. (AP Photo/David Goldman) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
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Open Image ModalWorshippers gather to pray in a hotel parking lot across the street from the Emanuel AME Church (AP Photo/David Goldman) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
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Open Image ModalWorshippers gather to pray down the street from the Emanuel AME Church. (AP Photo/David Goldman) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
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Open Image ModalWorshippers embrace following a group prayer across the street from the Emanuel AME Church. (AP Photo/David Goldman) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
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Open Image ModalLisa Doctor joins a prayer circle down the street from the Emanuel AME Church. (AP Photo/David Goldman) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
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Open Image ModalPolice close off a section of Calhoun Street. (AP Photo/David Goldman) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
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Open Image ModalWorshippers embrace following a group prayer across the street from the scene of the shooting. (AP Photo/David Goldman) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
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Open Image ModalA distraught man is comforted as a group of concerned people arrive inquiring about the shooting. (AP Photo/David Goldman) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
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Open Image ModalPolice walk down the street from the Emanuel AME Church. (AP Photo/David Goldman) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
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Open Image ModalPolice stand outside the Emanuel AME Church following the shooting. (AP Photo/David Goldman) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
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Open Image ModalA man looks on as a group of people arrive inquiring about the shooting. (AP Photo/David Goldman) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
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Open Image ModalPolice stand outside the Emanuel AME Church. (AP Photo/David Goldman) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)