*Dressed in climbing gear and a helmet, activist Bree Newsome climbed up a 30-foot flagpole on the grounds of the South Carolina state Capitol Saturday morning and removed the Confederate battle flag. Its value in modern-day American society has been the focus of debate recently.
Newsome removed the flag hours before a pro-flag rally was scheduled to take place at the monument in Columbia.
Her actions come ten days after the racist terror attack in Charleston, the Confederate flag embraced by murderer Dylann Roof. South Carolina leaders allowed the flag to fly on the Capitol grounds even as the body of State Senator Clementa Pinckney, who was slain by Roof, lay in state at the Capitol on Wednesday.
“We removed the flag today because we can’t wait any longer,” Newsome said in a statement. “We can’t continue like this another day. It’s time for a new chapter where we are sincere about dismantling white supremacy and building toward true racial justice and equality.”
Support for Newsome was strong on social media, including from celebrities. The hashtag #FreeBree trending shortly after her arrest.
Director Michael Moore offered to pay her bail and all legal fees. “Empire” co-creator Danny Strong and “Selma” director Ava DuVernay also tweeted support, with DuVernay referencing her recent connections to Marvel.
“I hope I get the call to direct the motion picture about a black superhero I admire. Her name is @BreeNewsome,” DuVernay wrote.
Yes. I hope I get the call to direct the motion picture about a black superhero I admire. Her name is @BreeNewsome. pic.twitter.com/BgMeaNsbYk
— Ava DuVernay (@AVAETC) June 27, 2015
Marvel Studios head Kevin Feige recently confirmed that he met with DuVernay about the possibility of directing the studio’s Black Panther.
“I mean, is it a huge goal that I’m thinking about and striving for? No. But if there was the right story, absolutely,” DuVernay told EW earlier this year when asked about directing superhero movies. “I think it’s important that our heroes reflect more than one kind of person.”
Newsome and activist James Tyson were arrested and charged with defacing a monument, a misdemeanor offense. They posted bond and were released from jail Saturday afternoon. They each face 3 years in prison and up to a $5,000 fine.
Advocacy group ColorofChange launched an online petition calling for the charges to be dropped and an IndieGoGo project titled “Bail for Bree Newsome” crowdfunded over $109K as of the time of this post.
“Her actions represent a nation that is saying NO MORE of letting this symbol of white supremacy fly,” first lady of New York Chirlane McCray said in a tweet.
Peep video of Bree’s epic flag takedown below:
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