Nationwide praise, criticism for SC Gov. Haley after call to remove Confederate flag, emails show

Praise and criticism from across the country streamed to S.C. Gov. Nikki Haley after she called to remove the Confederate flag from the State House grounds last June, according to thousands of emails her office released Wednesday.

Haley released more than 10,000 pages of emails and letters related to the Confederate flag and the event that led her to call for its removal – a shooting at “Mother” Emanuel AME Church in Charleston, which claimed the lives of nine African-American churchgoers.

In the days immediately following the shooting, emails overwhelmingly urged the governor to remove the divisive banner from its public perch.

CHANGE EX:“As a white citizen of this country, I am ashamed that a state government still flies a flag that is hurtful to all of us,” a California woman wrote.

“At this time of mourning for those who were murdered at Mother Emmanuel Church, to continue to allow a symbol of hate and pain to fly is the height of insensitivity,” a New Jersey man said.

When Haley called for the flag’s removal – five days after the shooting – Haley received a flood of emails from Confederate flag supporters.

A Greer man expressed "concern that some would revise, and indeed re-write our state’s(sic) noble stand for states’ rights. Until yesterday I have been a supporter of your agenda. Now I regret to inform you that I will NEVER cast another vote for you, or any legislator who votes to remove this symbol of heritage (not hate)."

The emails, released to reporters Wednesday through an open records request, are being made public just days before the one-year anniversary of the flag’s furling, which is Sunday.

The documents also include an early $1 million estimated cost for displaying the Confederate flag prepared by the Confederate Relic Room director for legislators.

It also includes an extensive list of X state officials, businesses, universities and organizations that supported removing the Confederate flag.

Cries for the flag’s removal started almost immediately after news broke that nine African-American churchgoers were shot and killed while they prayed and studied the Bible together.

One of the victims included the church’s pastor, state Sen. Clementa Pinckney.

Not long after the shooting, online pictures emerged of accused shooter Dylann Roof posing with the flag on a website with racist writings that he allegedly wrote.

Less than a week after the shooting, Haley gathered state officials at the State House and called for the Confederate flag’s removal from the State House grounds.

A symbol of the state’s Confederate heritage to some, Haley said the banner had been hijacked and needed to be removed. The S.C. Senate agreed.

By early July, after hours of contentious debate, the state House delivered the flag a final blow, voting to remove the Confederate flag from the State House grounds. It was removed from the capitol dome in 2000.

‘VACATION’

Several emails, angry about the flag, informed Haley of canceled plans to move to or vacation in South Carolina and threatened to boycott purchasing goods made in the Palmetto State.

Some said the Confederate flag – and the vestiges of Confederate culture in the South –helped shape Roof, who faces the death penalty in the case.

"Is it a surprise that a young man who was raised under this banner, and drives the streets named after Confederate generals, should turn out to uphold this violent and racist tradition?” asked an Illinois man. “I believe that the perception is that a miscreant like Dylann Roof was created, and nurtured, in the arms of an intolerant, racist Southern tradition."

Flag ‘should fly proudly’

Not all of the correspondence Haley received was against the flag.

A Florida man said he has read many accounts of the Civil War which have "struck a very deep and emotional chord for me. In my readings, I have never seen evidence that the Confederate flag represents a 'hatred of blacks,' has has been proclaimed by the press in the past two days.

The flag, he said, "is a symbol of historical significance and should fly proudly over all the state capitols that once belonged to the Confederate States of America."

A Greenwood man wrote in support of the flag, saying "any semi-reasonably intelligent people can research the history, origins and purpose of this emblem and rightfully (devise) that it had nothing to do with the cause they assign to it."

"To acquiesce to their cries is to throw away the integrity of those that died and fought," he said.

Descendents of Civil War soldiers weigh in

Others warned Haley of the political fallout.

A North Augusta man warned that removing the flag would "destroy your political career" and "hurt the Republican Party dearly. ... The Confederate Flag had nothing to do with what one crazy person did."

Some called her a traitor: "(I)s there a connection of races here? She is surrounded by blacks making the announcement – where are the whites?” said a man from Winston Salem.

‘A great start to eradicating the painful symbols’ ----->

‘I’d consider voting for you!’ ------>

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Some writers took hostile tones toward Haley,

Reporters Tim Flach and Cynthia Roldán contributed.

This story was originally published July 6, 2016 at 6:56 PM with the headline "Nationwide praise, criticism for SC Gov. Haley after call to remove Confederate flag, emails show."