World Report: April 21, 2000 Vol. 5 No. 24
- This Issue:
- Table of Contents
- Cover Story
- Cover Story - Spanish Version
- Mini-Lesson
- Comprehension Quiz
- Teacher's Guide and Worksheets
A Vote to Move the Flag
One big battle in the fight over a flag has come to an end. Lawmakers in South Carolina voted last week to remove the controversial Confederate flag from its post on top of the statehouse in Columbia. The state senate also approved a holiday to honor Martin Luther King Jr. South Carolina is the last state in the country to do so.
The new plan still needs to win final approval, but lawmakers hope these steps will help resolve a racially charged debate that has divided the state for years.
Many people say the Confederate flag should not be flown because it represents an era of slavery and racism in the South. Flag supporters say it's a historic symbol of the Civil War fight for Southern independence.
Under the new bill, a smaller version of the flag would fly at a monument to honor Confederate soldiers. "We got the best deal we could and created an atmosphere that would create better race relations," said Senator Ralph Anderson.
