Chambers of commerce, businesses join the call for Confederate flag’s removal

The South Carolina business community is falling in behind Gov. Nikki Haley’s call Monday to remove the Confederate flag from the State House grounds.

The Charleston, Greenville, Columbia and African American chambers of commerce issued statements of support for the removal of the flag, and five of the state’s largest companies – French tire maker Michelin, Hartsville-based Sonoco, airplane manufacturer Boeing, utility SCANA Corp. and BMW – also threw their weight behind the effort after her public remarks.

The state’s business community had been largely silent since Wednesday’s slaying of nine African-Americans during a Bible study in Charleston, allegedly by a 21-year-old white man with purported racist views. Repeated efforts by The State newspaper to reach officials of the S.C. Chamber of Commerce were unsuccessful Friday and Monday.

“Just as we did in 1999 when the Charleston Metro Chamber led local efforts to remove the flag from atop the State House, we feel that the flag belongs in a place of historical reference,” said Bryan Derreberry, president and CEO of the Charleston Metro Chamber of Commerce.

The Greenville Chamber of Commerce was the first to issue its support, via Twitter Monday morning before Haley made her 4 p.m. announcement in the lobby of the State House, surrounded by legislators.

“ ... For far too long, our state’s future and its prosperity have been restrained by the shadow of a regrettable chapter of our state’s history,” the Upstate chamber said.

Greater Columbia Chamber of Commerce president Carl Blackstone said, “I’m calling on our partners to reach out to their elected officials and have their voices heard in supporting the removal of the Confederate flag.”

“The massacre of nine men and women as they prayed at Mother Emanuel AME Church in Charleston left our nation shaken, angry and heart-broken,” the African American chamber said. “The removal of this flag will help make South Carolina a place of opportunity for all South Carolinians. Governor Haley is to be commended for taking this bold step.”

Many major companies issued news releases after Haley spoke.

“We fully support Gov. Nikki Haley’s efforts and direction and have confidence that the General Assembly ... will ... make decisions in the best interest of us all,” utility giant SCANA Corp. said.

Plastics maker Sonoco said, “We have been consistent in our position that the Confederate flag should not fly on the State House grounds.”

“Michelin applauds Gov. Haley’s call to remove the Confederate flag ... and agrees that the flag must be immediately removed,” Pete Selleck, chairman and president of Michelin North America, said.

Airplane maker Boeing said, “We support the leadership of South Carolina and the steps taken today to address this important issue. ... ”

BMW said it “applauds the courage” of Haley and “supports her leadership” in seeking to remove the flag from the grounds.

Boeing, Michelin, Sonoco and the chambers expressed sympathy for the victims and their families.

This story was originally published June 22, 2015 at 6:43 PM with the headline "Chambers of commerce, businesses join the call for Confederate flag’s removal."