Morning Buzz: Confederate flag coming down

History happened in less than a half-hour early Thursday.

The debate over removing the Confederate flag from the S.C. State House grounds looked like it could drag on into next week.

The House seemed poised to approve an amendment that would force negotiations with the Senate.

Then a stream of flag foes rose and spoke emotionally about why the banner must come down without delay.

The flag, a symbol of heritage to some and oppression to others, was an insult to the families of the nine African-American shooting victims slain during a Bible study in a Charleston church three weeks ago.

The amendment had been like others before it, drawing passionate support from some Republicans who wanted acknowledgment of their ancestors’ Civil War sacrifices.

Suddenly, the proposal, looking promising earlier in the debate, was set aside.

And after one last effort to replace battle flag with the S.C. state flag next to a Confederate monument, the House surprisingly took back-to-back votes at 1 a.m. Thursday to send the bill to Gov. Nikki Haley.

The last tally — the one for the history books — went 94-20.

The Confederate battle flag has been a fixture at the State House in one location or another for over more than 50 years.

By Friday, it could be gone.

This story was originally published July 9, 2015 at 1:48 AM.