South Carolina lawmaker pledges to introduce a bill to take down the Confederate flag

South Carolina Confederate flag
(Image credit: Sean Rayford/Getty Images)

South Carolina state Rep. Doug Brannon (R) plans to sponsor a bill to remove the Confederate flag flying outside the state Capitol — even if it costs him his chance at re-election. In interview with MSNBC's Chris Hayes on Friday, Brannon cited his friend Clementa Pinckney's death as his impetus for finally introducing legislation he "should have filed […] five years ago."

"I had a friend die Wednesday night for no reason other than he was a black man. Sen. Pinckney was an incredible human being," Brannon said. "I don't want to talk politics but I'm going to introduce the bill for that reason."

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