On January 17--Martin Luther King Jr. Day--50,000 protesters gathered in front of the capitol in Columbia, South Carolina, where the Confederate flag flies high. The flag was carried during the Civil War by Confederate troops fighting for the South. They wanted independence and the right to own slaves. The protesters feel the flag is a symbol of slavery and should be removed.
The flag's supporters argue that it is a symbol of Southern heritage and the fight for states' rights. They want it to stay.
Last week South Carolina Governor Jim Hodges said the flag has caused too much disagreement and it should be removed. But the final decision is up to South Carolina's lawmakers.