Rep. Jenny Horne (R) who represents Dorchester and Charleston County in South Carolina, gave a passionate speech calling for the removal of the Confederate flag on Wednesday.
She urged lawmakers to refrain from amending the bill, which would delay the flag’s removal.
Horne says if the bill is amended, it would go into a conference committee which could leave this issue on the table for weeks.
“The people of Charleston deserve immediate and swift of that flag from these grounds,” said Horne.
“This flag offends my friend Mayor McCloud, my friend John King, and my friend Rev. Neil. I cannot believe that we do not have the heart in this body to do something meaningful such as take a symbol of hate off these grounds on Friday,” said Horne as she broke into tears.
She says she attended the funeral for the slain pastor Clementa Pinckney who was also a state senator.
She passionately asked members not to vote to amend. She says doing so would add insult to injury for the families who lost loved ones during the tragedy.
“I will not be a part of it,” says Horne.
“I’m sorry, I have heard enough about heritage. I have a heritage. I am a life long South Carolinian. I am a descendant of Jefferson Davis. But that does not matter. It’s not about Jenny Horne. It’s about the people of Charleston who have demanded that this flag come off state house grounds.”
After her speech, she was met with hugs from colleagues.
