York County lawyers: Take down Confederate flag from Statehouse

The organization representing hundreds of York County lawyers has adopted a resolution that the Confederate flag should be removed permanently from the South Carolina Statehouse grounds.

The York County Bar Association voted to adopt the position against the Confederate flag flying in front of the state capitol, and sent a copy of its views to members of the York County legislative delegation. York lawyer Jim Bradford made the motion and it was adopted by an overwhelming number of the members.

Lawmakers will begin debate on taking the flag down next week. Renewed efforts to remove the flag started after Dylann Roof, a white racist, was charged with killing nine blacks at a Charleston church June 17 with the intent to start a race war in the state.

The Confederate flag has flown at the Statehouse since 1962. It was on the dome until 2000 when it was placed outside the Statehouse.

After the killings, Gov. Nikki Haley, and many national and state politicians from South Carolina have urged legislators to vote to take the flag down for good.

This story was originally published June 29, 2015 at 5:04 PM with the headline "York County lawyers: Take down Confederate flag from Statehouse."