We can do that ourselves. We can govern ourselves. And we can do it without trying to cut each others throats. Nothing would please some groups, like the Klu Klux Klan sorry mr. Pitts. Your first time has expired. Granted another two minutes. Nothing would please some groups like the Klu Klux Klan or the black panthers than nothing more for us to start fighting with each other. Than they get exactly what they want. This get strife. A group of pastors came together and asked the black panthers to leave. And i appreciated that. And ill take this opportunity. The klans not here yet. Ill ask them to stay out of South Carolina. We dont need either one of these two groups here. [ applause ] we dont need those two groups here trying to divide us and get us to fight amongst ourselves. Going back to that flag being offensive to some of my brothers and sisters in here. The words of lewis farrakon offended me, calling for the death of my grandchildren, which is basically what he did. And that group stood up and said, youre wrong. Thats wrong. And i want to thank those folks for doing that. I was waiting to hear that voice, and i heard it. And i thank you for it. This yellow jasmine is not representative of white South Carolinaians, dark south car line carolinaens. Its representative of our state flower. I ask that you help me put it on these grounds at that memorial if that memorial changes. Pending question. Is the adoption of amendment 29. Mr. Murphy moves to table amendment pitt 29. Mr. White requests a roll call. To nine members second his request . Nine do. Well vote on the board. Pending question is a tabling motion on amendment 29. The South Carolina houseworking through a series of amendments to a bill that remove the confederate battle flag from the state capitol. The first group of amends, mostly offered by mike pitts. Politico. Yesterday a South Carolina house member filed dozens of amendment amendments amendments, many outlandish to a bill that remove the flag from the state house grounds. Many appear to be designed a delaying tactics. House rules require 20 minutes on each amendment or as protest. One amendment calls for flying the American Flag on the state house dome upside down. Another calls for removing all monuments from the state house grounds. Still others single out individual monuments including an africanamerican history monument, a spanishamerican war monument and Law Enforcement for removal. Congressman pitts includes greenwoods in northwestern. Laurens county was site of. You can read more about the South Carolina house debate in politico. Times expired. Polls are closed. Clerk will tabulate. Amendment 29 is tabled. Number 30, mr. Pitts. Amendment 30. Amendment 30 mr. Pitts amendment. Mr. Pitts is recognized. Thank you, mr. Speaker. Last night i didnt sleep very much. I told my caucus that today. Part of it was im not going to go there. Part of it was the fact that i had pain in my heart. Not physical pain. But i also had pain from the injuries of the past that sometimes keep me up. And i knew i couldnt take the medication that i really needed to at 3 00 a. M. Or i would have been asleep now when i should have been here doing what im doing now. Or i would have been defenseless instead of just inappropriately armed when ms. Cobbhunter decided to start asking questions of me. Mr. Josey that was a time at 3 00 this morning that i started talking to my maker. And i asked my maker this morning at 3 00 a. M. To guide my words, so that i did not offend my brothers and sisters. I asked him to guide my heart, and i asked him to guide my mind to make the right decisions and the right choices. For all south carolinians and not end up in the corrals and the brawls we talked about earlier. I asked him to keep my mouth under control. And scripture tells me that the tongue is the hardest thing a man can try to battle. I asked him for unity as we move through this process. And i still couldnt sleep so i finally just got up, had some coffee and came onto the state house. And i was Walking Around the state house grounds, looking at how beautiful our state house grounds are. And i talked about that on the last amendment. But i have been to a particular monument on the state house grounds before, but i spent more time there this morning, simply observing and really taking a look at the africanamerican memorial on the state house grounds. Africanamerican memorial on the state house grounds is a beautiful, beautiful piece of work. Mr. Pitts, let me know when youll step questions. And i looked and moved around that memorial several times taking it into depth. My heads kind of hard. Sometimes it takes stuff two or three hits to penetrate it. My daughter taught me to see things a little more deeply. Where i saw a white cat, she had a very beautiful white persian cat. When she was about 5 years old, she drew a picture of that white cat. And in her picture i realized that white cat had a pink nose and the insides of its ears were pink. And one of its eyes were blue and one was green. That was great detail i had not noticed before until she brought it to my attention. The thoughts and anticipation of this debate today made me take an extremely close look at that memorial memorial. And the names of the people that were assigned to create that memorial. Those people did an excellent job. Not just in the detail, but in the depiction of africanamerican heritage and history from the beginning of this state and an unfortunate thing called slavery to today. As i moved around, i saw the great detail. And then i got to the first regiment. Of u. S. Volunteers. And the first regiment of u. S. Volunteers were freed black men that fought for the 54th massachusetts. And they fought the first South Carolina regiment, fought here in this state. And fought honorably. Thats a part of the history of this state. Just like my ancestors did i talked about earlier, that fought for this state. And if youve seen the movie glory, which i have many times, thats whats depicted in a particular section of that memorial. I didnt see danny glover there but i saw the faces of people that looked familiar. In that monument ladies and gentlemen, there is a soldier a standard bearer which was very important during the times that these battles were fought. Thats how people knew where the enemy was and where their friends were. They didnt have radios and mass communication. They had to move back and forth by using flag. And the first regimental flag of South Carolinas infantry which was attached to the 54th massachusetts, the standard bearer is carrying that. It is in bronze. It is the u. S. Version or the Union Version of a battle flag. You know what . I respect that very deeply. I did not find it offensive. And im not going to go and say that the current battle flag flying on the state house grounds on the confederate side is not offensive because i said earlier, it was abductive and used by hate groups to recognize that. What this amendment does is it makes a bronze plate of the first South Carolina volunteer ss, or the confederacy, that replaces or that is placed where the current flag and memorial is. The history of that particular flag, that first regimental flag, is written in our rotunda. Its engraved on a scroll beside the ceremonial speakers office. It looks like the state flag. Except that it has a wreath around it. Or it has a wreath around the palmetitry talking about those standard bearers. Five south carolinians in the first 15 minutes of a battle failed carrying that flag. All of them were under the age of 18. All of them under the age of 18. Think about that. Life snuffed out at 16 years old. In combat, carrying the flag. That regimental battle flag, as i said has never been abducted by any hate group. This amendment simply calls for it to be put in bronze and placed outside the state house grounds on the state house grounds. I think thats reasonable. I dont think thats an unreasonable request. I am so glad that we have moved past that time in history sorry mr. Pitts your ten minutes has expired. Taken second ten minutes. But weve talked about history up here today. And historys not always pleasant. Historys not always roses. But its our history. Its our collective history. We admit to the bad part of our history. We brag about the good part and we learn from all of it. But if we try to hide our history, the unfortunate facts that show throughout history is, you have a tendency to repeat it. And the stupidity of it. And loney josey and others that have served in the military here, i wish for the time when wars were no more. Young men going off to fight and die for decisions made by people who never were in the military. Sometimes actually avoided the military. But make decisions to send young men and young women today dont let me be remiss off to die in battle. The first woman to die in combat was a graduate of the citadel. The first woman to die in combat was from grainville, South Carolina. She was a helicopter pilot. She was a young white woman. The second one to die in combat, to my knowledge, was a young black female, also from South Carolina and a citadel graduate. If im wrong, my research fails me. But thats what i read in the past few days looking at Different Things in the history of our state. There was times where our country never would have sent i have a theory that i wont get into today, but i think that if you did it properly, a regiment of females with four companies would be the most deadly thing you could send into the enemy. I might talk about it to some of you individually about my theory on that later. But they have a tendency to not all be united at times. And if you if you had them on one, two three and four companies and sent one on them on point the first week one the second week one the third week and once the fourth week if you timed that properly you would have a fighting force that i certainly wouldnt want to have to face. Because it would be a deadly fighting force. Folks, back to the point. Im asking for bronze, for bronze. A display of one regimental flag and the other regimental flag thats already displayed in bronze. Thats exactly what this amendment does. I personally am proud of both of those history because they were all south carolinians. Im not proud of the fact that they had to fight each other. Most of you understand what the rest of the world has found out in one time or another, that when you face americas forces in arms, its not a pleasant thing to do. Americas forces dont lose often. We send good soldiers into the field. Most bloody war in history is when americans went against americans. There were more americans died in one battle during that particular war than died in all of our other wars individually. There were i believe, 22,000 south carolinians killed in that particular war. There were battles that come up called the bloody angle which was at appomatix. I wont get into all the battles, but this particular battle flag was carried in most of them. And, again, as i said, im asking simply for the bronze plaque that mimics another bronze thats currently on the state house grounds. With that, mr. Speaker i will relinquish the podium. Pending question is the adoption of amendment 30. Yes, sir. Mr. White is recognized to speak on the amendment. Representative white. Thank you, mr. Speaker. I appreciate the efforts of my good friend, mike pitts. But i really want to sit at my desk. I dont get up here and speak much. Ive gone around. Ive spoke to ms. Cobbhunter and others. And after the original vote a couple weeks ago from the anderson delegation talking about would we be discussing this issue but we come back and discuss it or not, and we i voted to the point of, let some time pass. Ms. Cobbhunter, she discussed that and she says strike while the iron is hot. That is true. But also to the point of mourning the nine that passed, and but during those times watching to how we got to where we are mr. Pitts and i sit and have a lot of conversations a lot of times. Were duck blind buddies. We do a lot of hunting together. But a lot of what we have done as south carolinians, what we have done as elected officials, is the right thing. We do it civilly. Everything thats driving a lot of this debate is from the outside forces. Much back to what mr. Pitts is talking about the war of northern aggression. Some folks say there was nothing civil about a war, and it wasnt. I am originally from abbiville county. Mr. Gagnon represents all of my family, which fought in the war of northern aggression. As a matter of fact, i told some that my great great great, great grandfather, bill y was the last living confederate soldier in abbiville county. He passed away in 1941. Had the wonderful experiences of having the ladies mr. Pitts outlive the men. And my grandmothers would all tell me stories about my ancestors and what they did in the war, how difficult it was. We were poor originally from the state of georgia. And mr. Pitts got up and spoke earlier to it. It was the point of communication where not like today, social media, where were getting threats from outside forces. My phone my wife called me this morning and said she had a call at 10 30 last night at my house. There are other folks in other time zones that dont respect the fact that were sleeping whenever they start calling. But anyway, i but that is the world we live in. I think sometimes we have too much out there on the internet and the web where we live where we live, our children, date of births. Way too much information people can search. Back in that era it was a good time and people told you that, mr. Hostages, youre being invaded invaded, pushing down your rights and they grabbed their guns and went. They were blacksmiths. Grand daddy billy replaced his father. And searching my heritage, which i like history and i believe heritage, and i think thats what a lot of us on the side of the heritage aspect not hate i think all of you have been in here and worked with me, and those that may be watching that grew up with me, its not about hate. And i understand that our heritage with the flag thats out fronts been hijacked. It hurts me, it pains me that those outside forces are coming down in a couple of weeks to march here. I dont condone the klan. I dont stand for anything they do. I think its horrible. I think thats how we got to this point of this debate and the race issues that has been brought about by them attacking a symbol of the confederacy, using it in the wrong way. But grandaddy billy was wounded at the battle of wilderness. In researching my heritage i didnt know that. That i had a gentleman that sat a row behind me in church at the end of another pew. Turned out to be a long, lost relative. And his grandmother wound up with the mini ball that grandaddy billy was wounded with at the battle of wilderness. He still has it. At those days mr. Pitts, they didnt have the nice thermal underwear to keep us warm. They wore oil cloth. They would wrap their body in cloth, with oil, repel the water. Keep you warm wouldnt get wouldnt. Wool uniforms that would get heavy. The oil cloth actually took the mini ball. Thats how we got the mini ball from the civil war. To me its more about history, my heritage. Thats something i pass along to my children. And i have three daughters. Which you asked mr. Pitts i would not want to go up against them at any point in time either. I think i know why you were speaking to that. They are a force to be reckoned with and theyre all beautiful and i love them. We try to teach in the proper way. We dont tell them to do things. And, mr. Neil, got a phone call from my wife. We talk daily. It really upset me to the point when president obama was, i think, went on the show and i think i told ms. Cobbhunter this, and used the n yt word. And my 6yearold madeline, we call little red was sitting there with my wife and said momma, is that like the b word . And my wife told me she cringed at that point the b word, oh my goodness. She says yes, well be in trouble if we say butt in this house. It upset my wife to no end that she had to explain to my 6yearold child what the n word was. We dont use that word. Obviously we dont use butt either. As well as other things because i think that is the way i was raised and thats how were raising our children. We were raised to respect one another and respect all people. Until they give you a reason not to. And i think the state of South Carolina handled the tragedy of the emanuel nine with the utmost respect for each other, which is what we have done. We have shown the world today thats watching through all these cameras and everything else, that weve been silvercivil, and it was proven yesterday i think yesterday with the veto override of a collection for the room. Everyone was on board. We can do whats in the best interest of the state of South Carolina. That is, show them that we are not what they want us to be. And ill take questions in just a minute. So i think that is that is what i love about this body. Its what i love about my state. In my district, my constituents are divided on them. They dont know i mean, some want the flag up, some want it down. So i think its something well have to do. Ive been doing a lot of praying. My preacher has been praying for me a lot of others too, as well as this body. Thats what heals us. Thats what makes us strong, is the word of the lord. And we dont judge each other. I think harvey pinnic said it best, if you follow golf, that the good lord waits until the end to judge. We should not judge each other at this point in time either. Thats up to him. Live your life the best and the cleanest that you can and let the good lord judge you in those decisions you made along the way. I always tell folks, if you do make a mistake, you can repent, ask for forgiveness, and it will be granted as long as you are sincere in your heart about it. But today, with the bronze portion of putting up a bronze flag, i dont know if i can support that or not. And i love my dear issue pitts for trying. But i know theres going to be many other things brought before this body and try to do. Ive been voting to any aspect of it. And i think that some folks, and i will agree with some and disagree with others, but to the point that, you know, just take a clean bill. Just do what the senate did, governors saying, dont amend it. Get it clean. Dont amend it get it clean. I think this is a process. It is our duty to debate. This bill skipped the Committee Process so this debate will happen on the house floor. So we should debate it, hear everybody out. We do it in a great manner. Were showing the world thats what we will do and thats how well take this up. And i think that is the appropriate thing to do. I actually kind of hate the fact were debating it on the floor. But it is what it is. Thats a sign on my office door. And i believe in that philosophy. At this time, mr. Speaker, i will entertain questions. Mr. Neil, recognized for a question. Thank you, mr. Speaker. Mr. White before you get started, your time your first minutes has expired. Granted a second ten minutes. Representative white thank you for sharing your view on the issue at hand. Its been interesting did you know its been interesting to hear the history and the view points that have come to this podium today, all of which have been very interesting. And as we talk about the history of this state, were you aware that when we talk about the africanamerican monument back here, that we have one person right here who was a part of the construction and planning of that monument, that person served as Vice President of the commission that developed it. She may be behind you. You know, you might be right. She is. Representative cobbhunter. Yes, sir. And as such as someone whos been here since 1993, who watched the evolution of this issue, im proud to see this body come to a point where collectively we can talk about come to grips with it and do it in a fashion that makes South Carolina and the country proud. I think that its that we as a body have the ability to come to grips with this issue, find a solution and make it happen. I appreciate you. Thank you mr. Neal. And i, too have walked the grounds this past week. Believe it or not dont have a whole lot of time to do it, but to that point and ive looked although all those monuments. And there were some former representative from anderson, too, that used to be my desk mate and driving mate, mr. Neal was also on that commission. And i think there was other members that have gone on. There are senators that are still in the senate that was. And i understand i didnt get to hear i was elected in 2000. I missed the first debate. From what ive heard, im glad i missed it. But and we didnt have all this technology back then either, back in those days. But i think its something, and i think the point i think we understand is respect. I understand its offensive to some groups. The groups that hijacked it, i do not like them at all. Of course, they may be watching this and they may not be liking me at this point. Thank goodness for chief out there with the threats. And i would probably wager to guess those that are attacking tillman hall that got spray painted this week in clemson, then, of course the flag went up outside of tillman hall right after that. I think its something and i doubt most of those are south carolinians doing those things. These are folks coming in from outside doing these things, like i think a lot of folks got a letter from colorado and weve gotten phone calls from texas and utah and all over the United States, and west virginia, telling us what we should or should not do in the state of South Carolina. But i think thats all up to us. Some want referendum. Some dont. Were going to have that debate here today. But i think its important on the educational issue that part of it is we need to be not a cleansed version of history but the true history on both sides. All of it. Youre exactly right. And, unfortunately, thats not what were doing. Thats what im trying to do with my children and they understand it. My daughter said that flag, she says, dad, i dont understand it. Its cloth people are getting upset about. She said, that was a time in history that wasnt very pleasant for the United States of america. I said, no, it wasnt. She said a lot of people died. I said yes, she did. She said they were fighting, some of them, for different reasons. I said, yes, they were. And she said but that was 150 years ago and we dont act like that now. She said, its important we actually learn from our history and not repeat it. Right, dad . I said you got that right. So, i think the point is, trying to educate. And i know we all educate our children and tell them the history and do what we can. And i think thats important, so while were talking about flags and monuments, we need to be talking about the educational component thats missing here and be teaching history in the state of South Carolina our history, our way, uncensored. Folks need to know, and i think they got a good dose of who we are, thanks to the National Media. The National Media did not like it. That we actually do get along in South Carolina and are very hospitable people. And with question . Mr. White, thank you. I just wanted to ask you when you first started talking you alluded to the anderson five or six and the ten that voted against amending the resolution. Is that i think you i think you said that. Do you think that if what representative rile was talking about with the Senate Version of the bill they sent us do you think that if it was interpreted those flags might come down, those flags are we addressing that issue is that outside the scope of the resolution . I dont know about that. I think where youre going with that aspect, i think, is on the last past. We have to remove those if we pass a clean bill, do we have to take all flags down other than the state flag and the u. S. Flag . My opinion is, yes. Obviously, i dont get to make that ruling, but thats just my opinion. So i mean, thats for whatever its worth. This piece of legislation would trump, i think the 03 resolution, so because were amending it. Thats just like the bung. The budget can amend statute 2 and only suspends it as long as its in there from july 1 to july 30. So i think theres many different technicalities and things we do but thats not thats brian whites opinion. But i think theres some clerks and others up here that and i understand you make a special ruling as to what happened. Youre not an attorney, im not an attorney. And i didnt stay at the Holiday Inn Express either. But i just wonder if addressing that issue of the veterans flags, is that outside the scope of the resolution that we passed . Thats my question. I guess it would be to the chair. Yeah, you would have to do that up there earlier. Thank you, mr. White. Representative white, i want to go back to something you mentioned about history. And i appreciate you bringing that up. And the fact that all of history should be presented. Do you believe in the early days, going back to history, that the africanamerican gets the credit . Because i dont see a lot of it, for their contributions to the early days in agriculture the days of rice and indigo in South Carolina and how they brought techniques here . I dont hear much of that. And youre talking about history, it brought that up brought that to my mind. Is that part of what youre talking about . I think it is. Its all history. It should be displayed because, i mean South Carolina is unique. I mean, it goes back to the revolutionary wars. South carolinas been pivot every war that weve had back to the founding days of the colonies. I think we go all the way back there, you dont do it you know, the neck of the woods where im from, you are, too, the old pendleton region up there, buck skin was the number one exporter. It come up with the indians in the day and basically kill the deer skins, the hide, and ship them. Thats history, how that area was settled. Charlestonians settled in pendleton. That was their summertime homes up in our neck of the woods. I think theres a lot of history out there. And you just got to get involved with your kids and take them out and do it, because, unfortunately, we have taken education now, mr. Loftis and driven it to testing. Everything is around testing and numbers and how well we do. Not about the content of things like our history in our heads. Its more of other things. And youre funding is predicated on how well you test or you dont test. And i think weve gotten a little off balance with that and were not teaching the history of the state and how we became the people we are. Its important that we teach it, not relive it. And i think thats the main thing that we need to take out of this debate here that were having with the Confederate Flag, with the history of our state, and the legacy that we choose to leave our children. I think thats very important. I think its very important to show them that were doing it in the proper way. We are adults. Were not going to scream and yell and call each other names and have knock down, drag outs. I think its just something that were doing a good job and im proud to be a member of this body, the way its displayed itself for this debate. Mr. Sanford, if youll hold that, mr. Cleary. Mr. Sanford has been patiently waiting. Will you withdrawal that tabling motion, mr. Cleary . Mr. Sanford is recognized. Thank you. Ladies and gentlemen of the house, i had not intended to come to this podium today, but i want to tell you a few things that have not been said from the podium. And i think need to be said. First of all is the decorum in this chamber. I remember very few instances where the person at this podium was listened to as much as we are all doing it today. And i thank each and every one of you for that. Were dealing with a very serious matter. Something that we all care a great deal about and probably are coming at from very different perspectives. And i think its important for us to have this debate. Were not going to all leave here happy with the final outcome. But when we leave here, i do believe we will leave with a majority vote to do something. And i think that thats critically important. The other thing i want to tell you about was my experience with going to the funeral of senator clementa pinckney. It started off on saturday morning outside the state house with three bus loads of people no, six bus loads. About 300 people on board going to charleston with a police escort, and seeing the throngs of people. I dont know any other word to use, but throngs, of people waiting outside of the auditorium there at the college of charleston. The service was to be at 11 45. Thank goodness they had reserved seats because had we not, we would not have had a place to sit. And as we observe that everything was just like it is here, but most decorum nature love charleston was basically closed. Very few businesses, if any, were open in downtown charleston. Streets were blocked and a lot of things happened. But when we went in to be seated, it was my privilege to sit beside my good friend ms. Cobbhunter. She and i sat there kind of in amazement, wouldnt you say, gilda, at the crowd and the way it was handled. It was a gorgeous service and one of great meaning. And i say that to say this that service epitomized South Carolina. Because it showed the nation and the world what true reverence we have for those in our midst who have been taken from us. It was important because it brought not only the senate but the good people, too, together. How many ministers did we have . Like 35 on the stage, is what im guessing. Yeah it was almost too many, ms. Gilda, because it really was difficult for someone to make their way across the stage to go to the pulpit. And they decreed that was a church for that day. But i think that in all of this we have become the poster child for how things should be handled without rancor, without violence, without any of those things. And i guess somebody earlier said it, but i think its this bless your heart attitude rather than in your face attitude. So, i wanted to share those things with you because i have struggled, ive struggled with this whole issue. Ive lost a lot of sleep too. I think all of us have. Ive prad a lot about it. Ive asked miami sons class to pray for us. With that youre asking to ask a question . Id be delighted. Sure. Mr. Clyburn is recognized for a question. Thank you. Let me mention one quick thing to you. There were a lot of religious leaders or there were about 40, and they were all ame bishops. The highest leadership we have in the church. They were very moved and very proud of the behavior. And they moved the teaching that they have taught through the years ago. And so i appreciate the kind words from you. And i do feel as you do. Thank you, mr. Clyburn. Let me say this. Some of you dont know it, but there are five members in this body who came in together. Mr. Clyburn, mr. Mr. Whipper, mr. Howard and mr. Limehouse where is chip . You got too big a head i couldnt see it. But i think its interesting you know i think its interesting though out of a class of 22 we still have five members who serve in this body. And we were here during the time that we debated this somewhat issue in the 992000 time period. So we have been here. And the emotion in this chamber is very much like it was at that time. It is a very emotional issue. Thank you for listening to me. I appreciate it. I appreciate what you guys do all of you. Thank you. Pending question is the adoption of amendment 30. Representative brown you wish to be heard . Representative brown is recognized. Thank you, mr. Speaker. What im going to say i was going to say later this afternoon. But brian white stood up here and so eloquently talked about heritage. I have had so many phone calls and so many emails about this issue from back home. And ive told the story i told it back in 1999, i told it to the charleston post and courier on the 22nd day of june when they called me and asked me how i was going to vote. I told them a story, and they printed it in the charleston paper. The next day june the 23rd would have been 150 years that my great granddaddy Thomas Peterson evans, took the oath to support the union. He took the oath from a Union Army General in kershaw township in South Carolina, 150 years ago. Hes buried in Cedar Creek Cemetery in lee county. With all that heritage i told the charleston post and courier, im willing to take it down. My greatgranddaddy died in 1925 1925. He lived with my mothers parents from the time she was born until he died. 11 years. She was 11 years old. According to my momma and according to him for those soldiers who wouldnt take the oath some of them were shot. In 1999 i brought the actual not a copy of it but the actual document where my greatgranddaddy took that oath. When they told their story the cnn new day program called me. Wed like to interview you. In fact, i have a copy of it. We took a picture and sent it to new york. And on thursday morning before the funeral on friday morning in front of the state house, cnn interviewed me about my heritage my family and how i felt about the flag. Now, ive got a lot of people who told me back home grady, you vote to take it down. Ive never voted against you. But, if this has to be my so be it. My momma god bless her soul, she left me all of her confederate memorabilia. She left the document, my greatgranddaddy greatgranddaddys confederate money, stamps, a letter from him detailing the information and a letter from her detailing the information, she was an avid member loved the united daughters of the confederacy. But my momma, god bless her soul, would tell me, grady you need to do what you know is right because i raised you that way. There comes a time in life when you have to say youve got to do whats right. And i know that i have as much heritage as any one in the world. My granddaddy, Thomas Peterson evans joined the confederacy at age 16. 16 years old. He fought for four years. He met a young lady in brunswick, georgia. Her name was emmy gaye. Trust me im not talking just general information. I know what im talking about. After the war was over he went back and he married her. After many, many years i finally found out who i looked like. I looked like my great grandmother. Ladies and gentlemen, there comes a time in our life and i ask my preacher on sunday morning publicly i said, preacher, this is going to be a contentious week in the state house i didnt say state house, i said columbia. He stopped me and said grady we will pray for you. I want to thank them for doing that. I want to thank you all for being so kind today. This has just been unreal. But i want my friends back home on both sides of the issue to know that im doing what im going to do to vote to take the flag down because i think it is in gods eyes the right thing to do. Thank you. [ applause ] mr. Collins is recognized on the amendment. Thank you mr. Speaker. Colleagues, its looking like im not going to be able to vote on this issue, unfortunately for my own self in this regard i have to catch a flight. And i do want to this body and my colleagues to know where i stand on this issue however. This is an important issue for our state. This is a time that we can heal some wounds. I think its this is the time for us to act. And unfortunately my name is not going to be green on whatever bill is the ultimate bill that comes out of here, but it would be. I do support removing this confederate battle flag as much as i respect it. Its time for our state to use this opportunity to heal. Whats worse than being on one side or the other though is being a novote. And before i hope yall get to take some sort of lunch break i wanted to take an opportunity to say where i stand. And representative brown im getting the same phone calls that unlike you however this might be two terms in one for me, my first and last. But just like you this is too important of an issue not to take a stand. So should i have an opponent next year i want them to be able to have this clip, not use a novote against me but to use this clip one way or the other that the flag should come down. Understand that theres some amendments to be had. And represent pitts thank you for what youre doing. There is a huge segment of our population that needs a voice, and youre giving them that voice today. I thank you for that. And whether its replacing it with the South Carolina flag whether its replacing it with the regimenal flag, the only thing i ask this body to do is im going to be one of the thousands watching. Tomorrow morning im going to open up a Las Vegas Sun paper and maybe tomorrow, maybe fridays paper, maybe saturdays paper, maybe sundays paper, but i hope that i can open up that paper and that we have resolved this issue in this body. Just like having a novote is the worst thing you can do on this issue, i think us not addressing this issue and having status quo would be just as horrible. So i hope and i pray for my colleagues. Youll be in my hearts. I hope we come to some consensus and that come tomorrow, come friday, come saturday, come next week, whenever we do come we come together. And i appreciate everything that yall are doing. I hope im speaking for the citizens and the people you represent thank you for sitting here. Thank you for representing each of your districts so very well. And yall are proving that today. So as i leave, i pray for yall, lets get this thing done. And thank you. Have a safe trip mr. Collins. [ applause ] any questions to the adoption amendment 30 i believe i saw representative brandon first moving to table amendment 30. Mr. Pitts request a roll call. Do nine members second his request . Nine do. Well vote on the board. Members im in anticipation that after we take this vote that we will recede until 3 30. Its my understanding that the republicans have a short caucus meeting. Mr. Banister at what time . Upon adjournment on the first floor of the blot building s that correct . Democrats call to have a caucus meeting . No Democratic Caucus meeting. Call to close. Clerk will tabulate. Vote of 8136. Amendment 30 is tabled. Reverend hodges moves that the house recede until 3 30. All in favor say aye. Those no. We will start probably at 3 30. Well as you can see the South Carolina house is in recess until 3 30. So well return with our live coverage at that time. The South Carolina house of representatives did vote today to remove the confederate battle flag from the state house grounds in columbia. Weve been asking for your thoughts and some of the facebook responses include the Confederate Flag represents thousands of blacks and whites that served and paid the ultimate sacrifice. Whats next . Removal of all confederate statutes . Thats from candy. And Walter Morris says this reprehensible flag invokes in Many American an awful chapter in our countrys history. Started the war over their right to keep thousands of humans as slaves. And we look for your comments, your thoughts on twitter or on facebook. Our Facebook Page is facebook. Com cspan. Quick reminder you can watch all of todays debate and yesterdays speeches in the South Carolina senate on our website at cspan. Org. Also, some of the debate that took place in the South Carolina house today. Now, heres a portion which leads off with tributes to the nine People Killed in the Charleston Shooting last month. As many of you know the church itself sits in the district that i proudly represent. So in doing this i felt we felt this is how we should start our day at the state house in honoring them. Now, the mother emanuel nine shall ever be in our hearts. They shall dwell forever with god. The honorable and reverend clementa pinckney, the pastor of Emanuel African Methodist Church and his members, the other souls, cynthia hurd, tawanza sanders, myra thompson, ethel lance, Susan Jackson and the reverend Daniel Simmonds sr. , and reverend depayne middleton. And i had to get through that because most of these people that resides in my district i had many of us had personal relationships with as far as being our friends and our colleagues. We cannot ever add to what was their sacrifice in examples. They gave their last measure of devotion to their church. And in doing so stands as an example of christian life. We humbly thank them for their example. Grace and forgiveness started with the people most hurt, the families. We want to thank the families who shocked the world with their acts of forgiveness. Forgiving a man who took the most precious thing from them. The christian acts of forgiveness by these families have been heard around the world. Sometimes we use the phrase the shot heard around the world. Well, their acts of forgiveness have circled the world gently calm our hearts. Were reminded of galatians 3 13 which says, as christ forgave you, so you also must do. They react with forgiveness that truly surpasses our human understanding. I firmly believe that they may well have calm what could have become a calamity on top of a tragedy. We are all reminded of that. We pray that our state, our nation and the world can embrace with unity the examples of forgiveness which begin with our families response to unspeakable horror. Our hearts will always be with the pinckneys as precious daughters and each of the family members. We want to thank the people of mother emanuel ame church, a famous church, a church built and sustained by the Africanamerican Community through the decades no the centuries. It was built and burned and then rebuilt. Surviving natural and manmade storms storms, it will survive. We want to thank the leaders of the ame church who led us through our time of grief and memorialize the emanuel nine with the gloryious service just over a week ago. In all the many, many people in the church who through unknown acts of kindness both large and small made this more bearable. This has been an emotional time for all of us. And very much for the people of my district. I want to thank the people of my district for the love and compassion they have shown the world. That is the leadership they have shown thrust upon them but not shirked. Keep in mind this was a Community Already rocked by the murder of walter l. Scott. We want to thank the president barack obama who spoke eloquently of our loss. We want to thank the people of charleston, her leaders who both responded professionally and with compassion. Mayor joseph p. Riley and his staff, police chief mullen and his officers we want to thank president mcconnell at the open doors of the college of charleston, Governor Haley and our state Law Enforcement personnel. And we would love to thank the leaders in here who demonstrated love compassion and unity to the world. This is brought forth a new understanding and a new way of seeing ways to peace and justice. So what do we do now . The scales have been shed from all of our eyes. The blindness that was our affliction that prevented us from seeing that which divides us has been lifted and we now see what needs to be done. The right thing to do is what we call the healing thing. The gentle laying down of the past and a hopeful road to the future. And i would be remiss knowing that all my charlestonians and all the Great Organization that help us calm the world show the world that in charleston South Carolina, and in the state of South Carolina we are people all creeds and color united united as one. I want to give thanks to organizations such as naacp, the sclc, rain bow push, the National Action network, the coalition for change. You work with us and showed the world that we can put all our differences aside in the time of need and call to leadership the true leaders of the state in which we have thus far to this second in this state house and especially in the house of representatives we are showing the world as one as one we can achieve anything. God bless you all. All right. Before we begin this debate as so eloquently referenced, pauls apostle a you must forgive others as god has forgiven you. Let us all stand in a moment of silent prayer as we remember the nine members the Emanuel Church who gave their lives and their families who continue to grieve. Pray with me if you would. Amen. Thank you all so much. Thank you mr. Speaker. That was an amazing tribute that representative gillard just gave to the house. And he was right. Each and every person in here is really stepped up and done your job as a state leader. But there was one person that he did not mention that he left out thats been the rock in all of this horrible horrendous tragedy that weve gone through. He pointed out that mayor joe riley did an outstanding job. And he did. He led us through a time, i dont know who else could have led us through that time in the city of charleston that he did governor nicki haley she did a good job. She did a good job. Governor haley attended all the funerals, she was there for us and led our state through a very, very difficult what could have been a very dievisive time. When you look at South Carolina the way we handled this tragedy versus other communities, the quality of people we have here are second to none in the world. But one person i wanted to mention was the person he left out was himself wendal gillard. Thank you, wendell for all youve done. The night of the murders he was on the scene with mayor riley. I was out of town, he said get over here now. Our districts share the church and weve got a big problem and he filled me in and i said ill be there in the morning. From that point forward he was at every press conference every wake, every vigil. He rode this thing like tanto rides scout. He was unbelievable. And for that wendell i want to state here from the well today i want to personally thank you for the leadership that you provided to our state and to our community during probably one of the worst times ive ever seen in my lifetime. I dont know whats going to happen with the flag debate today. And i dont really care. What i do care about is all of us working together to get ourselves through a tragedy. And, wendell youve set the bar and set the standards. Thank you for what youve done. And well continue to Work Together on these issues and god bless you all. Thank you representative limehouse. [ applause ] mr. Mccoy. Remarks made by representative gillard be placed and memorialized in our journal. So ordered mccoy, if theyll submit them in writing to the desk thank you so much. We have various messages received from the senate regarding vetoes on the budgetary matters we have taken up earlier this week. Messages received. Mr. Hodges congratulateing st. John senate 897, the First Amendment is substitute one substitute one. Mr. Pitts. Members we are now on senate bill 897. The First Amendment is substitute one. Representative pitts is recognized on the amendment. Representative pitts. Thank you, mr. Speaker. Ladies and gentlemen of the house, folks from charleston, i feel your grief. One of the things i remember most when i first walked into this body 13 years ago was to smile of clementa pinckney. One of the most gentlemen that i know and ever met. The most pointed thing about him was his willingness to work with others. To the mother Emanuel Church you folks came forward and showed the world what christian love is all about. To South Carolina and to the members of this General Assembly, you have shown unity and come together and not shown ferguson ferguson, and not shown baltimore, and not shown the ugly face of hatred that weve seen in a lot of other places. And i commend you for that. I fell short today because i intended to bring a picture that i had on my desk, and i left it. It was a picture of me and my good friend ken kennedy sitting right back there together. We were both standing holding our mics and it was in the front page of the state newspaper. It said representative pitts republican and representative kennedy democrat addressed the General Assembly together on issues. When we leave here, i would like for us to have that same unity no matter what the outcome is. This First Amendment is an amendment that is very telling to me because its historical. It is about our country. It is about the war that those flags represent. Some call it the war between the states. Some call it a civil war. Growing up my family it was called war of northern aggression. Its where the yankees attacked the south. And thats what was engrained in me growing up. Some of you know many of you dont, that theres native american in my heritage. My bald head wouldnt imply that, but my high cheekbones and dark features do. And stan watty, the man whom this amendment is about, went to war not over slavery. Slavery was a key reason for the civil war. Scripture tells me that god abhors imbalanced scales, i know nothing that imbalances the scales of mankind more than slavery of any kind. Whether its putting people in chains and making slaves of them or whether it is a factory or a mill having their workers owe their soul to the Company Store store, our sharecroppers owing their soul to the landowner. Slavery is to be add by all of us. But one of the main reasons for that great tragedy of four years was states rights the ability for states to govern themselves. The states formed the federal government. After the revolution it was ten years almost 11 years before they actually formed a nation and ratified a constitution. The colonies became states then it became the United States. And there was a huge argument that still exists to this day over which should control the destiny, the sovereignty of the states or the rule of the federal government and where the divide is on that. And some of you probably are already thinking that im talking about the Current Administration in washington. And im not. Im talking about washington in general. The federal government to me has become a cancer. Its growing off the people of this land. And for several, for several administrations it has been at the expense of liberty of the states and liberty of the individuals individuals. I disagreed with george bushs patriot act, and i think a lot of people today that agreed with him at that point would agree with me now. Because of what its become. I agreed with a lot of his domestic policies or disagreed with a lot of his domestic policies. It got me in trouble with a former speak who are at that time wanted to become ambassador or did become ambassador, because i did a press conference against some of george bushs policies. I feel the same way about the Current Administrations policies. But its not just those guys that hold the president s office, it is washington as a whole. Theyre sucking the life out of this country. Theyre sucking the liberty out of your lives. Now, lets get back to this amendment. Stan whitey who was he . The chief of the Cherokee Nation. The Cherokee Nation just a little north of us, lets see which direction am i looking . North of us. Part of that Cherokee Nation still resides in cherokee, North Carolina, in the mountains. My sister moved off the reservation about four years ago. She was the last of my family still up there. What happened what happened that would cause stan whitey to become involved in the civil war . Its a thing called the trail of tears. Give you a little history lesson. Some of you dont know this either. I went to college to be a schoolteacher. And was going to be a history teacher. I did one semester and realized that i could not teach in the public schools. I was not cut out for it. Thats why i admire those that can. There was so little discipline at times that i found myself wanting to strangle other peoples kids, and i knew i couldnt do that. Like Clint Eastwood says mans got to know his limitations. So i left. And continued to coach, but i didnt teach anymore. But i was teaching history. And i did go back and do some substitute teaching in history. This is a history lesson. Stan whitey led the Cherokee Nation or actually his ancestors, led the Cherokee Nation to take up arms for the United States. And they actually saved Andrew Jacksons rear end in 1812 fighting the british. They lent their hand, spilled their blood and kept the british from coming back and reconquering the United States. How did Andrew Jackson repay him as president . He sent him on the thing called trail of tears. What happened with the trail of tears . The Cherokee Nation was known as the civilized tribe. They had their own alphabet. They had decided to assimilate into the culture that was surrounding them. They had become educated. They had become lawyers and doctors. And federal government decided it was going to take their land. And those lawyers and doctors that had become educated filed a lawsuit in u. S. Federal court, and they won. But the president , Andrew Jackson, decided he was going to ignore what the u. S. Supreme court had decided. And he sent the military to remove the cherokee from their homes. By force. And he did. He removed a vast portion of the Cherokee Nation from their homes. If you go to cherokee today and i would suggest that each of you do it because its well worth the trip, just to see the outdoor play at the amp theater that depicts that. Mr. Pitts thats your first ten minutes. Ask for a second ten. So granted. That play is well worth seeing. Not just because its history, but because its done very well by the actors. And we dont have to have people portray native americans. They are native americans playing the roles. But that army went in and forced the Cherokee Nation to move to what was then a deserted place known as oklahoma. And made them walk the entire way way. Thank you, sir. From their homes in North Carolina that the u. S. Supreme court had said belongs to these people. They were forced at gunpoint and bayonet to walk all the way to oklahoma oklahoma. Men, women, children, sick, invalid, elderly, it didnt matter. Luckily some of them decided to hide in the hills instead of going on that despicable march. And thats why you still have the eastern band of the cherokee in North Carolina. But by force they were marched all the way to oklahoma. A huge percentage of them died. Why is it called the trail of tears . Its called the trail of tears because of the tears shed by the ones that lived for the ones that did not. Thats why i get so riled when im up here talking. And representative rutherford, yu you and i are on the same page so often fighting against the overreaching of government at all levels. Not just the federal government, but State Government and local government as well. This is an atrocity thats represent ive representative representative iveative of what happened and what can happen. Stand watie was so mad, angry. I dont have words to describe what he must have been feeling about how betrayed the nation was by