An activist took down South Carolina's Confederate flag, and Michael Moore is offering to pay her bail
Liberal documentary filmmaker Michael Moore offered to pay any bail and legal fees for Bree Newsome, the black activist who was arrested for scaling a flagpole on South Carolina statehouse grounds and removing the Confederate flag Saturday morning. The flag was reinstated before a pro-Confederate flag rally.
Moore wasn't the only one ready to fork over money for the cause. An Indiegogo campaign has already raised more than $17,000 for Newsome and other activists in the movement protesting violence against black people.
The debate over the Confederate flag gained attention after a white shooter killed nine people in a historically black Charleston church earlier this month. Gov. Nikki Haley called for the flag's removal, but legislators must pass a measure to ensure it comes down.
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
Join more than 350,000 subscribers and keep yourself informed with a selection of The Week’s most interesting, enlightening and entertaining stories - plus daily puzzles.
Join more than 350,000 subscribers and keep yourself informed with a selection of The Week’s most interesting, enlightening and entertaining stories - plus daily puzzles.
A free daily email with the day’s biggest news and analysis – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Julie Kliegman is a freelance writer based in New York. Her work has appeared in BuzzFeed, Vox, Mental Floss, Paste, the Tampa Bay Times and PolitiFact. Her cats can do somersaults.