because it's not traditionally what broadcast journalism does... >> the new home for original documentaries al jazeera america presents this is all live from new york city, i'm tony harris, a lot happening for you right now, you're looking at the capital of south carolina, that's columbia, and we are standing by waiting for an announcement from the governor, nikki haley and, they will not confirm what she is going to say, but there are reports, that she is going to call for confederate flag to be taken down at the state house, and it comes in the wake of last week's deadly shooting, an

historic black church, in charleston, the suspect you see him there, dylann roof, openly expressed his admiration for the confederate flag in his manifesto and, would he learned, that president barak obama will deliver the eulogy for pinkney the lawmaker killed along with eight ours in last week's attack and, vice-president joe boyd den intends to say attend and, the american flag, and the south carolina flag are here, and ord he that way by the governor, to honor the shooting victims and, the confederate flag, that you see, right there, which has been a bone of contention for years is outside the state house flying at full staff right now. joe walters is there, in charleston, and look, this flag

wasn't always where it is, today, that's correct isn't it? that's correct true, back in 1962, they now it over the capital dome and, they took it down and, it is where it is and, it has been there ever as soon as and, it's outside the confederate monument, and the reason that it is not flying at half-staff, it cannot. and the fact that the flag cannot be lowered is one of those bones of contives, there are two major stories, one is the political climate, the governor is expected to announce that she wants the flag to be taken down and, other is the climate itself. it's 97 trees, and feels like it is 110. and there are concerns that any temperatures, as the temperatures rise so could the anger level, that so far has remained calm, de despite the

fact that a gunman opened fire and, killed nine people including the pastor, the political winds are changing. politics saying, it's time for the flag to come down. the states will decide that, and let's have that debate at the right time. we should all be in mourning. the flag should be at half mass, across our states and country and, now is the time for mourning. that needs to go to a museum, it sends mixed messages and, at worst for people hateful people like dylann roof, it's an after fir making, because they have appropriate reeighted something, and used it as a symbol of government. the government has no role in it. and also, a position on this. i'm not from south carolina and this is a decision. it's beyond south carolina. these are decisions that is should be made by people, i

don't think the federal government should be making decisions on everything. this is a decision that needs to be made here in south carolina. now, according to a poll that was done, this is how the people feel about it, that poll being conducted last year, 61% of the people said it should continue to guy as is. and 33% say it should not and broken down by race, those numbers change, and 3-4 whites or 73% say it should continue to fly and, 61% say it should come down. okay, thank you. and we're starting to see boy, a number of people starting to line up, i'm seeing some people, some faces, mark san ford, you remember mark sanford, who is there and others, south carolina dignitaries, a very diverse group and, there's the mayor of

charleston, joseph riley, and, a number of other dignitaries and we're waiting now for the governor, to appear, and i would imagine, del walters, we're going to hear from, my understanding, the two republican senators right of u.s. senators, lindsay graham and tim scott, correct. that's true, to give you an idea how quickly the political winds are changing here, the other night, i ran into senator graham, and his last words, be kind to my city. he recognizes that the political winds shifting because there are more people moving into the town and, the climate is changing will there are 5,000 blacks moving out after town that was black and, 4,000 whites moving in. so you're seeing a lot of transplants from the north, and they have differing views. so it's not only a white/black

issue, it's young versus old, and it's all over. here is the question, we always ask you in a situation like this, anyone who is, you know, in a city, where there's been a flash point, and that's the case there for charleston, what is the mood like? what do you sense? there are the immediate aftermath of the hor ribl events of wednesday, and then those hours, 24, 48 hours after you get to the weekend and then yesterday, and where do you think the city is today? tony, if i could describe it, it would be. i'm going to ask you, i'm going to ask you to hold your thought because here is the governor. a few minuting a. this has been a very difficult time for our state. we have stared evil in the eye and watched good prayerful people killed in one of the most

sacred of places. we were hurt and broken, and we needed to heal. and we were able to start that process. not by issues about talking about issues that divide us but by holding vigils and, hugging our neighbors and, honoring those we lost and, praying, and our state is grieving. but we are also coming together. the outpouring of love and support from all corners of people across this state and country has been amazing. the families who lost loved ones, have been unbelievable pillars of strength and grace, their expressing of faith and forgiveness took our breath. they show the world what sought sought looks like at our best. and the church reopened its doors and, michael and i were there and, we took our two

little ones and, my children saw what true faith looks like and, they saw that true hate can never try u. over true love and, they saw the heart and soul of south carolina starting to men, i want to talk about the heart of our state and, the people of south carolina i'm so proud to serve. the country, and the world, have watched our strength and, resilient over the last few days, we are strong people. who love god, our families and have a deep faith. we believe in neighbors helping neighbors and, we're a state that has held tight to our traditions and continue to grow and change, in ways that move us forward, and we were named the friendliest and the most patriotic too. american flags fly from home onto home. in just the last few months, the nation watched our state go through another time of crisis, when we dealt with the betrayal

of one of our own of walter scott, south carolina did not respond to rioting and, violence, like other places and we talked to each other, by putting ourselves in other people's shoe and finding common grounds in the name of moving our state forward. the result, both republicans, and democrats, black and white, came together, and passed the first body camera bill in the country. and i stand in front of you, a minority female governor, twice elected by the people of south carolina and, behind me, senator tim scott, elected, boy those same people, one of two african american senator. five years ago it was said, in the last 50 years, south carolina has changed the most for the better. that was true when i quoted it, in 2011.

it's even more true today. we have changed through the times and, will continue to do so. but that does not mean we forget our history. it is filled with emotion and, that's more true in south carolina than a lot of other places. on matters of race, south carolina has a tough history, we all know that. many of us have seen it in our on you then own lives and, parents and grand parents and we don't need reminders. in spite of last week's tragedy, we have come a long way and, have much to be proud of. but there's more that we can do. that brings me to the subject of the confederate flag that fly's the state house grounds for many people in, our state, it stands for traditions that are noble, of history, heritage, and advanced history and, the hate filled murder, who massacred our brothers and

sisters has a sick view of the flag. in no way does he reflect the people who respect, revere it. south carolina view it as a symbol of respect and, integrity and, duty and, a memorial, a way to honor ann says tors who came to the service of their state during time of conflict. that's not hate. nor is it racism. at the same time, for many others, in south carolina, the flag is a deep offensive symbol. as a state, we can survive, and indeed we can thrive as we have done, while still being home to both of those viewpoints. we do not need to declare a winner and a loser here. we respect freedom of exrels, and those that wish to show respect of the flag, no one will stand in your way, but the state house is different.

and the events of this past week call upon us to say look at this in a different way. 15 years ago, after much debate, south carolina came together, to move the flag from the top of the capital dome. today, we are here in a moment of unity, without ill-will to say it's time to move the flag from the capital grounds. [cheers] . 150 years after the end of the civil war, the time has

come, there will be some in our state, who see this as a sad moment, i respect that. but know this, for good and for bad, whether it is on the state house grounds or in a museum, the flag will always be a part of the soil of south carolina. but this is a moment in which we can say that that flag, while a part of our past, does not represent the future of our great state. the murderer now locked up, said he hoped his actions would start a race war. we have an opportunity, that not only was he wrong, but just the opposite is happening. my hope is that by removing a sim billion that divides us we can move forward in harmony and, honor the nine blessed souls who are now in heaven. [applause]

the general assembly wraps up their year and as governor i have the authority to call them back into session, i have indicated to the house and the senate, if they do not take measures, to be sure it takes place this summer, i will use that to remove it. [cheers] . that will take place in the coming weeks after the regular session, and the veto session have been completed. and there will ab time for discussion and debate and the time for action is coming soon. i want to make two things very clear. this is south carolina's state house. it is south carolina's historic moment, and this will be south carolina's decision. to those outside of our state, the flag may be nothing more of the worse of the past, and that's not what it is to many.

the state house belongs to all of us and their voices will be heard, and their role will be respected. we have made incredible progress on racial issues and so many effort, the 21st century belongs to us, because we have chosen to seize what's in front of us, to do what it right is to do it together. i have every faith that this will be no different, it is who we are. second i understand, what i have said, will generate a lot of interest, what i ask is that the focus still remain, on the nine victims, of this horrible tragedy, their families, the mother a.m.e. family, and the south carolina family, we all deserve time to grieve, and to remember, and to heal. we will take it, and i ask that you respect us. we know that bringing down confederate flag will not bring

back the nine kind souls, nor rid us of the hate, that drove a monster through the doors of the church that night. some divisions are bigger than a flag, the evil comes from a place much deeper and darker. and we are not going to allow this symbol to divide us, and people are choosing to use it as a sign of hate is something we cannot stand and, the fact that it causes pain is, enough to move it from the capital grounds. it is a capital that belongs to all of us. july 4th is just around the corner and, soon we will celebrate the birth of our nation and freedom and, it will be fitting that our state capital will soon fly the flags of our country and state and, no others. god bless, god bless the people of the great state of south carolina. thank you. [applause]

all right, we'll standby just to see, if any -- if there will be any remarks from anyone else who is gathered here. i think that's it. what a moment, what a moment. what a handle, that i think you have to say by governor, in the state of south carolina. and nikki haley, and, del is with us. a couple of things, just a couple of things, the remarks, we stared evil in in the eye, or state is grieving. and then, interesting, she remark -- reminded the country, after the death of walter scott, a black man who was shot and killed, in the back, by a police officer there, that, states that

that didn't erupt in violence and, we saw a different scene play out in baltimore. and, she reminded us that that didn't happen there, and that this is as community that will heal itself and, while there are a number of people from outside the area, who may have opinions about the flag, and south carolina and its past, that this is a situation, where south carolina was going to close ranks, and, heal itself, and there will be debate on her decision, that she would like to see the general assembly take up, to remove that flag, the confederate flag. tony, i have to tell you, as i was listening to the governor, i was struck by the change in the mooted, and the climate, from when i worked in the south,

the early 70s, and, i never will forget when i talked about the civil war, and i was reminded by a photographer, that that's not what they refer to it as in north carolina, it was the war of northern aggression. and you couldn't help but be struck to the number of monuments of confed rats. virginia, and georgia, and when you were working in the south. i think the governor, and her remarks made sure that she paid homage to the people who say we do not need to declare a winner or loser, if you wish to fly that flag on your lawn, but she said the state house is different, 150 years after the end of the civil war, the time has come, and that was the first time, in my resent memory, that i can hear a governor, so adeptly declare there's a period

that chapter and, the new chapter, in fact, one of our producers, who is a son of the south, he got chills on july 4th it is time to fly two flags and, no offers. the united states and south carolina. you heard them roar, in that briefing, and in that press conference haul in the capital there, when she said the words, it's time for it to come down. the time has come, 15 years later, it is time. 15 years from the moment when the decision was taken to remove confederate flag, and later, it's time to move the flag from the capital grounds. and you heard that applause and you heard that roar in that room, i'm thinking about, what that will touch off, in that state. there are very clear minds as to

say the way people feel about that flag, in that state. your thoughts on that. those lines are changing and that's what i was going to say is, sometimes all it takes is a spark and, in this case, the sentiment that i keep hearing is that, the gunmen went too far, in a society that is used to violence, and killing, going into a church and, not just a church and, doing it into a prayer meeting, when the faithful are gathered, and sitting with them for an hour, and then, opening fire and, killing nine and, trying to make sure there were no survivors because he was angry at the way situations were going for black or white, and that it was time to take back the country and, return the confederate flag. the governor, and others, and congress people, when the sermon was there at church, if you can say that anything happened in church, you always hear the phrase, there's a little bit of

church going on. there was a lot of church going po, and that sermon moved a lot of parts, and so did what happened. there's a mood, that nobody wants those nine people to have died in vain. that's a strong statement. and yet we know how deeply rooted some of these feelings are. i think that's going to be a very interesting debate in the holes of the general assembly. standby, we have a couple of minutes left and, i want to get to a piece and, get back to you. as we have been discussing the confederate flag, debate, it has taken on new meaning, we just heard del talking about that. everyone from republican presidential candidate to the president of the united states has called for this particular flag to be taken down. as jonathan martin says, it is considered a crucial element of

healing for the city of charleston. this will no doubt be a tough week for the people here as they prepare for nine separate funerals and, they said they were surprised that this church could reopen so soon and, one minister said, they had to reopen, to show how strong their faith is ♪ ♪ ♪ determined not to the let fear, and anger outweighing their fate. i needed to come out today, to strengthen myself. members of the a.m. e. church returned to worship, since wednesday's mass shooting with heavy security on hand. it has been tough. it's been rough. some of us have been down right angry. but through it all, god has sustained us. a.m.e. church elder, led the service, standing where the

long-term pastor normally would preside, he was one of nine members killed during the shooting rampage. there they were, in the house of the lord, studying your word, praying with one another, but the devil also entered. and the devil was trying to take charge. in this historically black church, sunday's crowd was as diverse as ever, with the governor attending along with people from across the region, many who said they felt compelled to be here. i never attended a african-american church and, it is very inspiring. they spoke about the families and i found that very touching, that we could come together, that there's no division between us all, no matter who you are. i was not going to let the devil win. virginia williams attended for years, and she said grief almost kept her from returning. i was a little shaky, and i

was determined, that, i was going to do this. so, this is a measure, just how determined people are, this was not merely a worship service. this was a statement of character, as it we're not going to give up. yes, there are answers, that we are still waiting for. but the answers, still by leaving our hands, in the hand of god. during the service there was no direct mention of dylann roof, the 21-year-old suspect, and the church applauded law enforcement's effort to capture him ♪ instead of focusing on on what happened, the message was one of forgiveness and, hope and, encouraging them to find the strength to press on. this will be a tough week as they prepare for the funerals on wednesday, they will hold their regular bible study and prayer meeting, and, a funeral for a track coach and, minister at the

church and, on friday, the pastor, will also be laid to rest. jonathan martin reporting, and just moments ago, the governor, saying, that it is time, the time has come, 15 years after the confederate flag was removed from the dome of the state house, it is time to move the flag from the capital grounds. del, let me come back to you, in charleston, is this enough? you know, this is a big step, there's no doubt about it. but i don't have to tell you, there are all kinds of monuments and statues there, will this be enough for people in the south, and in that particular state, who might look at this as maybe a good first step? i think you will hear people say it is a step in the right direction, but it is the first step, and you hear a lot of

people talking about, when are they going to tighten the gun laws and i want to show you these images, these are people who have been filing out in front of mother emanuel, and look at the faces and this is the new south, they're white and, black and, asian and, young and old and they're not standing on one side of the street or the other, they are standing together. i think that's what the governor was saying when she says i am the minority governor of the state of south carolina. del, thanks. that's all of our time, thanks for joining us, we'll be back with a full update on all of the day's news, at 7 p.m. we'll leave you with some of the sights and sounds, of the service, in charleston ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ i think it will take a very long time to get passed what's

happened. i hope this will be the catalyst to church. ♪ ♪ ask god that you will guide and direct and strengthen those families, who have been victim myselfed.

>> this week on talk to

aljazeera a rising star in the ballet world misty copeland >> it was the first time i had an identity, and ot was through being a dancer >> one of six children raised by a single mother - copeland had a difficult childhood. >> i never felt a connection to anything or anyone. and i was constantly just trying to fit in >> misty copeland stumbled on to ballet at 13, she had natural talent. >> as soon as i stepped into the ballet studio i started to realize that this is beautiful, and this is challenging. >> but she had to fight for the right to dance. emancipation. >> being in a public school and having your story postured all over the media, not just in california, but the united states, was traumatizing. >> not only did misty copeland face the challenge of her skin color, but her body type, featured in a national commercial. today misty cropland wants to

pave the way for children of all ballerinas. >> to set an example, to push as hard as i can to make it as far as i can in the ballet world so they'll have an easier pass. >> i spoke to the ballet theatre soloist about her life story recently, in new york. tell me about the moment you discovered ballet. >> i say it discovered me, or it found me. it happened - well, dance was always just a part of my natural state as a child. it's something that i - whenever music played, i was dancing. it became an escape to me, that i don't think i realized was that for many years. it was a way to escape the chaos of being one of six children, so many different things. >> and moving a lot. >> and moving a lot. so many things that weren't ideal as a child, and movement

became that escape for me. when i was 13, i tried out for the dance team in my public school and was told i should take a ballet class at the boys and girls club where i was a member. i think it was when i stepped into the ballet studio, the actual studio, because my first class was on a basketball court, and i don't think i grasped what ballet was, and i was extremely intimidated by it. it was when i stepped into the ballet studio that i started to realize "this is beautiful, and this is challenging, and this is the, like, extreme beauty escape life." >> the story goes from the moment you started you were basically a prodigy. it was what you were meant to be doing. did it feel that way? >> not until i became a professional did i understand the weight of the word and the expectations - whether or not

you would succeed past being gifted at a young age. at the time it was fun. i was being pushed and challenged in something that i liked doing. i looked forward to learning every day and growing, and perfecting the incredible art form that i knew i was not going to perfect, but the challenge of approaching that was something i never experienced before. >> you said it was fun. in your book you wrote "i was a nervous child. my unease coupled with a perpetual quest for perfection made my life harder than it needed to be." how so? >> this was definitely before dance, that i just never felt a real connection to anything or anyone. and i was constantly just trying to fit in. i didn't want to be the best at anything. i just wanted to blend in. and that was kind of my existence.

throughout my family experiences at home, of just kind of blending in in the background through, you know, my other siblings, which was easy to do, i just was always so nervous that i was going to say the wrong thing or be judged. i think i got used to kind of hiding what was happening at home, that i was embarrassed about, and it became who i was. >> let's talk about your home and ballet is very organized. there are rules, right. that you wrote, and talking about your family, our family began a pattern that would define my siblings, six of you totally, packing, scrambling, leaving, often barely surviving. you touched on this a little bit. but how did that define who you are now? >> i think that it has given me more appreciation for the incredible world i'm a part of

now. it's given me appreciation for how fortunate i am to be on the path that i am, to have the opportunities that i have. i think it's given me a thicker skin. life experiences to pull from at a very young age, to become an artist on the stage, i think a lot of children who grow up blist fully unaware of what happens, that once you get on stage as a professional, as a performer, it's, like, where am i pulling this from, to become another person, to become a character. i think that having the experiences i did at home kind of allowed me to dig deeper. >> so i look at them as tools, and something that i tried to turn in to something positive. >> tell me about your first bradley. >> cindy - i think that she was the first person that i felt believed i could do anything.

i think my mother definitely thought that. she thinks that of all her children. just in the situation you grew up in, i don't think it was something that was spoken. and cindy would say it over and over again out loud. it was the first time i started to develop an identity of my own. i started to feel that i'm worthy, i have a voice, i'm good at something, and she never made me feel that i was different to anyone, because i was african american, because of my circumstances, because i started late. she would say you are so extremely special. that, though, led to a very turbulent time for you, whip yo - when you go to live with your teacher, and there's a point where your mother is not okay with that.

talk to ma about the process you went through of suing your mother for emancipation. >> i was 15 years old. when i say that, 15 years old, i think i was at the maturity and mind-set of an 11 year old. i was definitely a late bloomer and did not come into my own until i was probably in my 20s, and i think that dancing definitely gave me the opportunity to explore and to grow into the person that i don't think i could be without it. i would have never become this person without ballet. at that time, all i wanted to do was dance. and i was being told that - well, by my mother, first hand, that she wanted me to be home. which made complete sense. i've given you almost three years to live with your teacher and get the training you needed, and now you need to get home. then i was hearing from my teacher, if you leave now, you may not dance again.

i don't know if that's the priority within your family situation. your mother is a single parent, you know. just trying to survive and keep her children off the street and in school and fed. i was kind of being pulled between two worlds. one of which was a world i started to grow accustomed to, the ballet world, and i saw my future there. and the thought of losing that was like death. it was like i would die. >> wow. >> that was the identity that i - that i became. it was the first time i had an identity and it was through being a dancer. i felt special. the thought of losing that was terrifying. so to be 15 years old, and to be so private, just by nature, and to have this emancipation that unravelled and turned into something more than i ever thought it was going to be. i thought it was going to give

me an opportunity to be an adult and make the decisions to continue dancing, on my own, that i would be able to do with my teacher and i could see my family and everything would be great. that's just not how things worked out. i think that both parties had my best interests at heart. and were trying to do what they could to do what they thought was best for me. but being in a public school and having your story postured all over the media - not just within california, but all over the united states, was traumatizing. >> you actually say to this day i'm still trying to understand mummy. do you understand your mother adult? >> i have more of an understanding and appreciation. of course, i will never know probably until i'm a parent, but i try every day to understand. >> of course, you said the battle in my mind and spirit raged on.

was that just you trying to work through the aftermath of everything. is that what that was? >> yes. to recover emotionally, psychologically and then to be thrown into a new ballet studio. the only studio i knew was someone i took my first class at and was cynthia bradley. it was intimidating. people had preconceived ideas of who i was because they saw me all over the newspapers, and it was terrifying for me to walk into a school and we judged and people looking at me as though this is a prodigy, let's see what she has. >> it was a lot of pressure. >> it was a lot of pressure and a lot to handle after going through what i went through. >> you are now one of the world's famous ballet dancers, you are a soloist at the american ballet theatre. have you commercials, books, a reality show. so many things have come after this difficult path that you

had. did you ever envision - and i forgot, you danced with prince on stage - forgot that one. did you ever envision that this is what your life could be? >> no, no. it's hard to accept that it's a reality. i don't know, again, i'm just so humbled and grateful for the bagged that i have and the situation that i have been through and be standing that i want to forever be able to give back to ballet what it's done for me. and that's the constant battle i have within myself, in improving myself to the ballet world, and getting out the exposure that i've been getting, that it's not about something as simple as

someone wanting to be famous. i never wanted that. i want the ballet world to be given the respect that it deserves, and to be seen by more people. for so many to experience the beauty that i received from the ballet world. with every opportunity, and every incredible thing that happens, it's just a shock. >> overwhelming. >> it's overwhelming. and i never step outside of myself and think it's me, that's a proud moment, that's the girl i mentored. that's ballet. it makes me so proud to be a part of it. >> that's a constant refrain in your book, for the brown girls, for the little brown girls that are constant.

it's clear, that that is what motivated you, and that's what drives you. i am sure there's little brown girls that meet you that probably get emotional when they see you. i can't imagine the pressure i would imagine. it has got to be kind of an hon you are, is it? >> i don't people any pressure from that at all. it's the same way i look at raven wilkinson and how emotional i got the first time i spoke to her, hear her story, being the first african-american to dance in a ballet company, to experience what she went through. i saw myself in her, and i know that that's what they are seeing in me. and it pushes me to get going, setting an example to push as hard as i can as far as i can so they will have an easier past. >> you're watching "talk to al jazeera."

stay with us as i speak to misty copeland about race and body image in the world of ballet.

>> i work really hard and i see myself having more of a future in classical dance, and not just doing contemporary dance,

and that's what i started to see a change in my career, but people needs to understand that that's what i'm constantly saying, the kids that i'm mentoring, just because you're saying it doesn't mean that people hear it. you have to say it. >> at a very young age -- >> especially with dancers, it's ingrained in us, the format how classical ballet works, you're forever a student, which we are, but you're in the classroom, and you don't speak, you just receive information from the front of the room. you're not asked for your opinion, so you kind of get used to not having a voice, and you can get lost in that. >> you do still take class? >> oh, yeah, you have to. as a professional, that never ends. it's not like -- it's how we warm up every day, and it's also how we fine-tune our instrument.

so it's the same way -- instrumenting, i don't know what you call it when you fine-tune it. it keeps us in tip to form and shape. >> you're watching talk to aljazeera. nk...

>> we're making history right now... >> al jazeera america

>> you're watching talk to aljazeera. i'm richelle carey, and our guest this week, someone who has taken the ballet world by storm. misty copeland. >> so i know that one of your goals was to be the first black principle dancer at the american ballet theater. is that your goal? >> i think every dancer's goal is to -- you know, when we become dancers, we see those roles, and we dream of dancing these iconic roles. but of course that's my goal, but i don't want it to overshadow what actually happens. because i'm so happy with the way things are.

and the roles that i'm dancing, and every time i get the opportunity to dance them. but it's not just a quick fight to get to this position. but it's about the journey and learning and becoming the artist that i'm becoming. so that if and when that happens, i will be completely ready, and comfortable to accept that role. >> i think that you're breaking down stereotypes in a way that people don't realize. and what you're doing on the stage is chipping away at that every day. >> i hope so. that's the incredible thing about this art form, we have the opportunity to morph into these other characters and show that they're so much deeper than the labels and how people perceive the way they think we are. and what we're capable. and it's amazing to get an opportunity to prove them wrong.

>> it has been an honor. >> thank you.

>> hello i'm lauren taylor. this is the news hour live from london. coming up. germany frees ahmed mansour, the man detained two days ago at egypt's request. and grave abuses that could amount to war crimes. demonstrations in athens as