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On Top Of The News Email:news@arubatoday.com website: www.arubatoday.com Tel:+297 582-7800 Tuesday, January 19, 2016

Confederate Flag’s Absence Celebrated on King Day

JEFFREY COLLINS
Associated Press
COLUMBIA, South Carolina
(AP) — For the first time in
17 years, civil rights lead-
ers gathered at the South
Carolina Statehouse to pay
homage to the Rev. Martin
Luther King Jr. without the
Confederate flag casting a
long shadow over them.
The rebel banner was
taken down over the sum-
mer after police said a
young white man shot nine
black church members to

Francys Johnson, center, joins hands with Jacqueline Lott-Jackson, left, during a moment of prayer at the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.
holiday commemorative service at Ebenezer Baptist Church where King preached, Monday, Jan. 18, 2016, in Atlanta.

(AP Photo/David Goldman)

death during a Bible study Southern states during the it a priority for lawmakers to flag,” said Ezell Pittman,
in Charleston. The young American Civil War. pass legislation to remove who had attended most of
man posted photos online Following the massacre at the flag from the State- the King Day anti-flag rallies
showing him carrying the the Emanuel African Meth- house grounds. since they started in 2000.
Confederate battle flag odist Episcopal Church, Re- “Isn’t this a great day? It’s

flown by forces supporting publican Gov. Nikki Haley so nice to be standing here Continued on page 5
the secessionist, pro-slavery reversed course and made and not looking at that