Alabama governor orders removal of Confederate flag from Capitol

confederate flag
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Alabama Gov. Robert Bentley (R) ordered the immediate removal of the Confederate flag from the state Capitol building, Birmingham News reports.

Two workers came out of the Capitol building about 8:20 a.m. and with no fanfare quickly and quietly took the flag down. They declined to answer questions. Moments later Gov. Bentley emerged from the Capitol on his way to an appearance in Hackleburg. Asked if he had ordered the flag taken down, the governor said, "Yes I did." [Birmingham News]

When asked for his reason, Gov. Bentley replied, "This is the right thing to do." The Confederate flag remains at the center of controversy with many retailers, including Walmart and Amazon, banning its sale following the recent allegedly racially motivated shooting at a historically black South Carolina church.

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Jeva Lange

Jeva Lange was the executive editor at TheWeek.com. She formerly served as The Week's deputy editor and culture critic. She is also a contributor to Screen Slate, and her writing has appeared in The New York Daily News, The Awl, Vice, and Gothamist, among other publications. Jeva lives in New York City. Follow her on Twitter.