South Carolina

NAACP ends its 15-year economic boycott of South Carolina

The Associated Press

An honor guard from the South Carolina Highway Patrol lowers the Confederate battle flag as it is removed from the Capitol grounds Friday, in Columbia. The Confederate flag was lowered from the grounds of the South Carolina Statehouse to the cheers of thousands on Friday, ending its 54-year presence there and marking a stunning political reversal in a state where many thought the rebel banner would fly indefinitely.
An honor guard from the South Carolina Highway Patrol lowers the Confederate battle flag as it is removed from the Capitol grounds Friday, in Columbia. The Confederate flag was lowered from the grounds of the South Carolina Statehouse to the cheers of thousands on Friday, ending its 54-year presence there and marking a stunning political reversal in a state where many thought the rebel banner would fly indefinitely. John Bazemore AP
PHILADEPHIA

The NAACP has lifted its 15-year economic boycott of South Carolina a day after the state took down a Confederate battle flag flying near the Statehouse.

The civil rights organization passed a resolution Saturday at its national convention in Philadelphia to end the boycott of tourism and other economic activity.

The boycott started in 2000 during debate over the flying of the Confederate flag atop South Carolina’s Statehouse dome. The boycott remained after the flag was moved to a flagpole on Statehouse grounds.

The NCAA, which honored that ban, has said it will resume holding championship events in the state.

The decision to relegate the flag to a state relic room came after the massacre of nine people at a Bible study in a black church in Charleston.

This story was originally published July 11, 2015 at 9:33 PM with the headline "NAACP ends its 15-year economic boycott of South Carolina."

Get unlimited digital access
#ReadLocal

Try 1 month for $1

CLAIM OFFER