aspect. my family has been here for many generations, my great-grandfather was with generally when he surrendered. i am aware of my heritage, but my appreciation that they accomplished to make my life that are does not in that i must believe that they always made the right decisions and for the life of me, i will not understand how anyone could find -- fight a civil war to continue the practice of slavery. think about it for a second. our ancestors were fighting to continue to keep human beings as slaves and continue the imaginable acts that a cure that -- that occurred when it somebody is held against their will. i am not proud of this heritage. these acts were wrong, wrong, wrong.

now we have these hate groups and the symbols they use to remind african-americans that things have it changed -- haven't changed. things have changed. overwhelmingly, people are not being raised to believe that they are superior to others taste on the color of their skin. my generation was raised to respect all people, of every race religion, and gender. i have often wondered what is my purpose here in the senate. i've asked god to guide me and strengthen me and i have prayed that i will be able to make a difference for this stage. i have prayed that i will leave this place better for future generations, i am proud to take a stand and no longer be silent. i'm proud to be on the right

side of history regarding the removal of this symbol of racism bigotry from the statehouse. let it not satisfy us to stop there. justice by house is not justice we must take down the confederate flag and take it down now, but if we stopped there we have cheated ourselves out of an opportunity to start a different conversation about healing. i am ready. let us start the conversation. thank you. >> thank you senator -- member from charleston. >> let us allow words to be recorded in the journal. >> so ordered. >> god bless the state of south carolina. >> proceed.

senator from charleston. mr. campson. >> cs lewis said to be a christian means to forgive the inexcusable because god has forgiven the inexcusable in you. it means to forgive the inexcusable, because god has forgiven the inexcusable in you. i want you to reflect upon that as you listen to the rest of my remarks. sunday evening while participating in the bridge to

peace event, my sister witnessed an act that encapsulates charleston's reaction to this brutal -- the church murders. while people held hands across the bridge, a man stretched his arms to heaven and declared, " this is how we ride it -- riot in charleston appear code keep hern." i am proud of my hometown. and the victims'families with their statements of forgiveness and charity toward the murder er of their loved ones personifies why we should be checked -- proud of charleston. the response to this horrific

event is inexplicable in human terms and it is not until i reflect upon this quote by cs lewis, to be a christian means to forgive the inexcusable because god has forgiven the inexcusable in you reflect upon that quote can you make any sense of their actions at all. their response is a christian response. it flows from the gospels message of sin separating us from a holy god christ paying the penalty for these sins and offering reconciliation with god . understanding that they have been forgiven of much empowers the forgiven to literally forgive. when a debate leading up to the

removal of the confederate flag erupted in 2000, i was only one of two republican members of the general assembly that supported the removal. i did so for one reason, it did not meet the criteria that flags must meet to flag over the -- to fight over the capital. -- to fly over the capital. it must be the flag of an existing government that has jurisdiction over people. i was captive to that logic. the flag failed that test thomas so i argued for its removal of these grounds. -- so i -- my father was in the general assembly when that flag was placed over the don't. in 2000, he organized over 90% of the 1962 general assembly

along with several former governors to sign it a petition that he drafted. it indicated that they place it over the dome to commemorate the centennial of the civil war and had neglected a takedown date. their intention was never for the wide to fly -- flag to fly indefinitely. they petitioned to remove it in the year 2000. george will referred to these arguments as a solution to the debate. this history is relevant because it constituted ground to remove the flag in 2000. in light of charleston's reactions to be a manual -- emmanuel church shootings, i

believe we should remove the flag. the common ground of which i speak transcends and is more powerful than issues of race and heritage. it is yet another biblical principle found in romans 14:19 pursue what makes for peace and mutual up building. the witness of the church pursuing peace and mutual up building demonstrates that love is greater than hate. congregants at st. michael's church and other charleston churches followed emmanual's lead when they paid the -- bathed the church in prayer. sunday night, the charleston community demonstrated an

outpouring, a virtual spontaneous outpouring of unity when 15,000 people held hands across the bridge. the unknown man i mentioned earlier who declared about rioting in trawl 10 -- interesting, and many others have followed suit. let us and focus on what outsiders say, let us focus upon us, our relationships, our communities, and our state. let us follow the example set before us, if the confederate flag on statehouse grounds upset citizens, let's remove it in the name of peace and mutual up building. let's do this as a reciprocal act, a reciprocal act of charity and grace, extended to the

fallen, their families, and the conservation of my friend and colleague. they have demonstrated incredible forgiveness charity and grace before god and a watching world, both in life and death they have showed us how to live and pursue peace and mutual up building. it is our turn to follow their example. >> thank you. mr. jackson. mr. jackson: thank you, mr. president and members of the senate. my original thought was i was not going to say anything else but i am reminded of what my friend says, sometimes the best inc. -- best thing to do is to be brief and quick. i want to share, maybe put some

things in perspective, but i was first elected to the senate as a young man, 34 years old at the time. when i walked in the door, there were four confederate flags in this building. it will help you understand the compromise reached in 2000 because i think that is lost on people now when they say you co-authored the compromise, they look at it as something bad. in particular, i was so young imagine 34 years old walking into this building on the first floor, there was a confederate flag. on the dome of the capital, a confederate flag. on the first day of my session when i was told to turn to the american flag, put your hand of your heart and say the pledge of

allegiance, i had to look at a confederate flag. for a great deal of time, i would purposefully miss the prayer and pledge of allegiance, because it was so painful to put my hand over my heart and say the pledge of allegiance to the united states flag and look at that same flag. history cuts both ways. in 2000 when my great friend senator mcconnell and many others, the great legendary senator matthews and others when we signed that compromise it was tough. it was very tough. i think what is missing is that people say to me now, and i refused to do any television interviews, because first of all

it is important to put it in perspective, migrate great uncle -- my great great uncle, when sherman marched through columbia, he joined sherman's band. he had a family, he named his son sherman. history is this story, and his story was william t sherman was a great liberator. i said that and i was proud in 2000 when we signed the heritage act. here is what we did. we put one flag by the monument and for other flags on the building, we took them down. we substituted one flag for four flags. that's me was progress -- that

to me was progress. i will tell you, i never thought that was the end. you remember the speech i made at this podium as we debated in 2000, that has since given me so much -- so many challenges. ice to and -- ice should -- i stood and said i love the naacp. and i love the state of carolina also. we are doing the right thing. we are doing the right thing right now. i knew it was not finished, i knew that it would not be the end. i hoped and prayed that i would be here long enough to see what we are doing today and that they has come.

i did not want to say anything but i am compelled to say that i am so glad. i leave you with the words of the apostle paul when he writes about discouragement and he writes in galatians, let us not become weary when we are doing good, for in due time, or at the right time, we will reap the harvest if we just don't think. and i'm -- faint. and i'm so glad that we did not. congratulations, i'm proud of this body, i love this state senate. thank god for bipartisan leadership. god bless the senate and god bless all of you. >> thank you. >> unanimous consent to record the words of senator campsen and

senator jackson. >> i would like to be heard. >> proceed. >> mr. thompson -- kempsen. mr. kempsen: i rise as the senator of district 42, the place of the charleston massacre. i want to provide you an update on how the district and other areas are faring. the citizens of charleston are resilient, strong, tenacious people. who are persevering through this

great tragedy. we applaud what this body is discussing here, as my colleague just mentioned, there have been several vigils. i have spoke with reverend golf last night, the presiding elder at ame church. funeral arrangements are being made. i have been in consultation with the reverend rivers, who is on the ground, therefore spiritual healing to the families. i want to take a moment to talk about mother emmanuel. mother emmanuel, senator from boo for, mother emmanuel is our sanctuary. a sanctuary for the devout, who

through vandalism, fire earthquake, hurricane and depression sacrifice to maintain a tabernacle for the glory of god. in a sanctuary for active nest who from the pulpit called for justice and humanity. there was no greater, no greater man of god qualified to speak from the same pulled it -- told pit that dr. martin luther king jr. spoke, then our colleague. he understood the meaning of a sanctuary and a safe and sacred place for worship, for peace, for organization and action.

yes, it was in his sanctuary are sexually -- our sanctuary that we took hands that they took hands reverend daniel simmons, susie jackson, and others, god took their hands as a reward of a lifetime of service to his glory. mother emmanuel was our sanctuary, because it was literally the oldest and greatest mother church for christianity, as practiced by african-americans in south carolina and throughout the south. moreover, people of all races organized and where we relax our souls, to listen for god.

mother emmanuel is a church for all of us and it belongs to all of us. so when evil walks inside our sanctuary and takes a seat, listens to god, and then proceeds to violently violate our refuge month -- one one might ask where is god? gathering in his house and then evil massacres in a place where people should feel safe. where is god when in a city rich of history but also steeped in racial division, a coward steps into god's house and in flames racial tension by killing murdering, nine lakh -- black worshipers? where is god when the carpets of

this oedipus built to his -- edifice built to his glory, is stained with blood? i will tell you where god is mother emmanuel itself is the answer because this word is hebrew for, god is with us. god is emmanuel and god is with us. he was there in that sanctuary when mother emmanuel providing refuge to those who are evil, before during, and after, he was they are holding their hands and whispering into their ears, in their last transition from god's earthly sanctuary to the great sanctuary above. and god will be with us when evil is brought to justice in the state of south carolina for

violating our sanctuary. god will be with us to forge a real conversation about hate, race, and division in this state when we take down the confederate flag. during the civil war, abraham lincoln asked, whose side was god on. he replied, my concern is not whether god is on our side, but my greatest concern is to be on god's side. as a take my seat and encourage the senate to do the work we came to do on behalf of all people, all creeds, all colors and the work of the people of south carolina, and as i reflect on district 42 in the aftermath

of the shooting of walter scott in north charleston and charleston massacre that killed nine families -- at this moment of pain and grief, just as god is with us, let us also be with god. let us be on god's side. let us do his business by passing this resolution to incorporate a great debate, so that we can begin the work of removing the confederate flag from in front of the state house. i will close out by saying, as i echo the chance of our ancestors, king jesus, no one can hinder me, nobody told us that the road it would be easy, but we do not believe that he

brought us this far to leave us. walk together children, do not get weary, there is a meeting in the promised land, bread of heaven, bread of heaven, feed me until i walk no more. >> thank you. senator from berkeley. >> i ask that the remarks of the senator from charleston be recorded. >> i want you all to know that -- will be lying in state tomorrow. there will be a community -- the church will be open from one-5 p.m.

the church bells will ring every hour, at 1:00, 2:00, 3:00, 4:00 and 5:00. there will be refreshments available, it will be very hot. i want to comment on what was said about her heritage -- what was said about heritage. when we passed the original heritage act, we had a component that we build a monument to african-american heritage in our state. that failed in 1993, a lost in the house. you came back under richardson -- senator and you asked us to meet with you. and he said -- and you said it

let's redo this. you asked if we could pay for it with private funds. and we said, good idea. and we went to see john and told him what we planned on doing. he said good idea. it and out well -- panned out well. i think that we are the only state in the nation with a monument to african-american heritage. i think we need to know that. >> thank you. >> the question is the adoption of a current resolution. >> thank you.

senator of charleston, god is still on the throne. god is with us. this body it comes from our ministers, the chapman -- chaplain the lowered compelled -- the lord compelled to use week and i appreciate the opportunity that this process for us continues. clement to -- clementa and i are all that remain from our class. my family, my friends, my

constituents at home he was a better man than i. because i don't know that there was one of us that can point to my brother and say, he spoke ill of me. and i will confess, apologize and ask forgiveness for strategy. i wish sometimes i had been more vigorous and less strident. i can say and confidence that he loved better than i do. i appreciate the fact that the holy city has been bathed with so much prayer. and god's word.

and i am reminded of what my minister gave me this past time as it relates to this. he remembered our brothers and sisters and charleston, again the senator from charleston, thank you for invoking the name. david said how good and pleasant it is to dwell in unity. he gave two examples from head to toe, the vision of the waters falling upon the mountain, down upon the land. the vision is eternal life

presents with god -- presence with god. picture the covering. i'm so blessed to be among you and i will say this, how good it is to dwell in unity. i would rather be in this unity than any other state in the country, but i do not feel this unity. so, as i tell you that i have spoken already with the majority leader, the minority leader, as i speak to my constituents of my stay, the world -- state, the world, i will tell you that we will continue to pray and

embrace each other, even in disagreement. i'm not voting for an adjustment. i trust as god knows my heart i will be able to continue to be benefited from you, i have been so blessed. senator from charleston, you said that you hope to convey something to us, everyone of you has you did. i pray for a spirit that i will be able to convey something to each of you, in the days ahead, i'm not sure what the leadership has in store for our conversation, but that is what i pray for. the conversation will unify us more than divide us. regardless of outcome, because

as was said, it is life evermore. i have heard it talked about the continuation of life, and eternity. we will look at you turn it past, present, and future at a later date. today is not the day. i appreciate the opportunity to express love for our departed brother and give you a basis of where my heart is as the debate goes forward. it grieves me the events that have precipitated this matter. the matter itself does not grieve me, what will grieve me is if we come out at the other end and have not benefited from god's signals of mercy.

to this point, i know we have. thank you. >> thank you, mr. matthews. mr. matthewsmr. matthews: thank you, mr. president. ladies and gentlemen, it is my pleasure to save the words about this process and who we are and what we can four. to say to you that i firmly believe in my good friend senator clemente, i always called him clem. we served in the same delegation

for years. what is important today is what we do and how we do it to set the standards. what is more important is the victims, they have set the template for how we conduct our business. i think it is the most important thing said today, that they have set an example and the template of how we should conduct business and react to others. in the spirit of forgiveness and recognition, there are differences in our state, but our willingness to come together to do which is right. my father was a preacher and he used to say, son, you can do what is right, and in the end he will be all right because in the end, right always wins. i am probably the longest

serving member of this body, in the general assembly and because of that i have seen many debates , some partisan, some kind of angry, but this debate i can say that the senate reflects the template of the families and the victims. as we come together to bring solutions to a problem that has plagued us for years. finally, i say to you that i know the families appreciate the discussion, appreciate what we are talking about. i will say to you, it is more important, not what we say, but what we do. let's do the right thing. >> thank you. mr. rankin.

>> so ordered. >> members of the senate, i will be brief. last thursday as we gathered with the unspeakable reality of what happened in this state to one of our own, that morning we had the usual prayer group which i sometimes attend and for the first time ever was asked to speak. the subject i chose was about fatherhood and the role that we have as fathers or parents, and the role given to us, the model given to us, our heavenly father and how we interact with each other and how we model through our children. -- that role, so beautifully

modeled by our savior. i heard the words offered by many eloquent speakers and the emotions, the rock shock -- wrong -- raw shock that was extended to the families and felt more directly by them, but then shared by the community and this state, this nation, and the entire free civilized christian world as the reverberations of forgiveness have been sent from those who would least be apt to say it and preach it. that message, of our people, in this state, in your city, of your city who had so admirably

practice what clemente preached in his last words recorded so beautifully to pray for those who did and do you evil. the flag, what about the flag and what are we to do as a state in response to this tragedy? the prayer i offered last thursday was what i invoke today as we decide on what to do about that flag. those who intended and what you intended for evil, god will make good. genesis, chapter 50, verse 20 --

what you intended for evil, god will make good. as we encounter now with this symbolic gesture that we as a state can offer to our brother and are others and sisters in the charleston community who paid the ultimate sacrifice for worshiping in a free democracy in the house of the lord, whose lives were lost at the hands of the person captivated perhaps singer lily -- singer luby -- singularly and what you invoked, the symbol of racism in our state. what is that we as a senate, as a body in this state, can give to, marked by the lives lost in

charleston. what is evil, god will make good. removing the flag, it certainly is. photo for this amendment -- voting for this amendment is within your hands, whether we take it down or not, as i hope we do, will forever mark our service in this senate and general assembly as our token of symbolic victory for the lives of those we didn't know but the one that we did, who practiced what he preached, who offered hope, peace, who offered forgiveness, that we as a state remove this symbol. honor it, yes. but remove it, yes indeed.

>> thank you. >> i would like to be heard, briefly. >> mr. alexander. >> consent to have remarked put in the journal. >> so order. >> mr. johnson. mr. johnson: i don't have to tell you that mr. clemente was a state senator. the house has voted overwhelmingly to amend the resolution to allow us to come back and discuss the removal of the flag from state grounds. if they can do that across the hall in honor of one of our fallen members and the victims we should be able to do the same thing. i hope that when we vote, we can deliver the same mandate and

reach into our hearts and attempt to do the right thing. thank you. >> senator pickens. so ordered. >> i will be brief. i don't want to do anything to interfere with the workings of the holy spirit, because what has happened in charleston, i have watched as a victims' families stood there and said that they for gave the man who killed their family members and they want him to repent. and as a christian, i know that

is the way that we are supposed to be. i am confident that i could not be that way. that is a testimony of what christ can do in people's hearts and that is what i want the world to see. i'm sure we will have a spirited debate over the flag and i will not vote for it, i will tell you the reasons why will we come back. but i want to remember my friend who was always, you could see joy and him -- in him and i echo what others have said. i never saw him lose his temper and i lost mine twice today already. i aspire to be more like that in spirit and i most inspired to be

-- aspire to be like my savior but those folks in charleston exhibited more in jesus christ, more than i have seen. and i am proud, regardless of where this debate takes us, i am proud to be a south carolinians and i think god for those people in trials in. >> thank you. mr. malloy to be heard. >> i ask that the remarks be put in the journal. >> without objection so ordered. >> thank you, mr. president. all of our members and friends as we get ready to close, i want to thank members here for all of their work that has been done, it has not been an easy week and

obviously i appreciate the discussion, the speeches, the things that are coming from the heart of the men and women of this great state. i want to take a few moments and beg your indulgence, before we pass this resolution, turning it back to the family. as we get ready to do the resolution, which i think, we know what is happening, to his children and family, they know that the senate loved the senator. as i stand before you, there is not words enough for any other thing that would happen, it would be soothing. for those who have your own stories, i have known him when

he came to the senate, he was a person that i turned to and we all turned to to make sense out of tragedies, to make sense out of matters that we needed income for, and times that were difficult, he would calm us down. i wonder what happens now with his distinctive baritone voice, how would he come when -- come in on this debate? i don't think his voice is gone, i think the spirit of the senate is a shining light. we have passed a budget, done it in a way that was pleasing and we still hear his voice from that committee, which was warm,

comforting, urging us has always to look to the lord as he always did. many of you know that you loved his voice. he used it not for himself, but to speak on behalf of those who had no voice. and he fought for everyone's right to be heard, to be treated with dignity, to be educated and have equal opportunities. it was not the loudest but always the most effective. if he ever uttered a harsh word to anyone, i never heard it. and they think that he silenced his voice, look at what he has done to this senate and state. i would say that the day after this tragic event, i drove to columbia, i saw this senate, i

saw that black cross draped over his chair and we think that they silenced his voice. it is right here in the senate. learning of the news, many of you heard about it thursday morning, i know that you haven't gotten much sleep. i know that you have laid in bed and try to remember the last thing he said when he spoke. i know that you have really tried to turn the focus back to think of his wife and children. he raged against the horrible act that allowed him to snuff out the life of our good loving brother. just as we could have been consumed by hatred, i know that

you can hear clem's voice in a way that enters your heart, words like forgiveness and hope, full of kindness and love. i know that this past sunday they had a different future in his church, but his voice was still there. i have been told that one of the most popular recurring dreams is falling in a nightmare, going down, but in my dreams, as i stood on a cliff i knew i was not alone. we are proud of the people of charleston, this state standing and in hand with each other. black, white, young old, their hands together, asking why are

we here? we are the people of south carolina and we are standing -- the president and the past -- the present and the past. the past is behind us, looming. together as we have teetered on the edge of racism and hate and hopelessness, trying to pull us down, a voice urged us to move forward in unison, together so that we might be saved and that deep, baritone voice comes back and encourages us. we know that he sang those songs of these and togetherness -- pete's -- opeac and

togetherness. ehis voice is here with me. you may try to silence the voice, but we can still hear it as it urges us to keep the faith and continue to love and trust one another. encourage us to do it out loud, silence never protected us. psalm 50, verse three, he would not the silent. we must have the courage to carry god's message as clem did. he went out praising the lord ministering to the lost soul who is there. we must continue to nurse the souls of our future. generations with fruit and drive out -- i know that his voice was heard in that courtroom last week, he spoke of forgiveness, it can can

use -- continues to resonate through his children congregation, through me, to you. in closing, i say speak up. his voice can be heard speaking of the injustices that we swallow in silence. we must keep talking, we must do it for the senator for cynthia heard, for myra thompson, for fo glance -- ethe lancel, for the victims i'children. his voice will be heard.

i am a glad that you heard his voice. i appreciate the activity that is going on today. his spirit has been in each of us as we move forward to pass a budget without discussion, after all the work is done, it has been discussed and worked on and we came together and passed a resolution. i know that the senator from -- there are tears in your eyes. i know what it means. i would say, thank you, the real work that we have done and will do in this state, we will walk and in hand -- and -- hand in hand. as we go forward and work on issues, i hope that we carry this message forward and

continue to hear that voice of the pastor, the reverend, the great senator clemente. god bless you. at the end of the day we want to make certain that we come back and have a discussion that relate to the issues. i want to tell you about what we will do as we lay his body to rest and the other activities. thank you. >> senator from lexington. >> i ask that the words be printed in the journal. i believe that the house is waiting for us, so that we can move on. >> the question is in the adoption of the resolution amending -- a two thirds vote. those in favor say aye.

the ayes have it. >> i believe we received the amendment from the house, is that correct? >> has. without the -- without objection. >> which resolution was that? >> i don't want to be recorded on the resolution. >> senator from lexington. >> members of the senate, to those within the hearing of my voice, i wanted to wait to speak until after we had did the

amended resolution. i want to talk to you for a moment and talk to the world about where we are and how we got to where we are. and i would like to ask you to allow me to do that as a senior serving member of the south carolina senate. i came to this body when i was 31 years old. to be candid, i was wet behind the ears and had no idea what i was getting into. my father sat in this chair as i was sworn in. one house members had at that time, there is a difference in elections and in serving and

when you walk through those doors that spoke of responsibility is draped over your shoulders. each one of us who served in this body relies that -- realize that responsibility every day. that responsibility was brought home in a way last thursday morning that we never realized we never wanted, and we regret that we faced. i don't think the people of south carolina, nor the world and the nation that has been watching since last wednesday evening, really relies -- realize what the senate has dealt with and how they have responded in a reasonable and responsible way to what we were

elected to do. those of us on this side of the aisle as we watch tv last wednesday evening were shocked to learn of what was going on and had transpired in charleston. that shock became greater concern as the night went on and particularly on our side of the aisle, when we got no return text or phone calls from senator clemente, we realized with hope contrary to realizing where we were going to be. we came here on thursday morning

because we had a budget that had to be dealt with. we grappled as a body with how to deal with our responsibility to the people of south carolina and at the same time to honor our friend and colleague who we had been with as late as 5:00 the afternoon before. we took and did our responsibility, we held a memorial service for senator pinckney. we did our business with regret and left town and now we are here today, as we went to the same process, how do we deal with a conference report and the issues of this week and the

tragic loss of nine lives in charleston. again we did our responsibility. with respect, and i will tell you a personal experience that i had had relative to this whole process that we go through, and where we are here this afternoon. i had no idea when it started 45 days ago, that it would come to mean what it has meant to me. service for about 45 days ago. the preacher preached, and as a part of his sermon, he said, pray for the grace to believe.

pray for the grace to believe. i contacted him after that service. i said i believe for me, you have to explain that a little further with another sermon one day and invite me to hear you explain that, because that concept of grace to believe i wasn't really sure what that meant. but on this sunday, or last saturday i told him that i had learned what praying for grace to believe really meant. because i had seen the grace to believe, exemplified by the victim's family in charleston, s.c. when they stood and ask for forgiveness from their hearts. that is the grace to believe.

to believe that god knows what is best, and that he is in charge. and i have seen the members of this body come together in a way that is unimaginable to the rest of the country with the grace to believe, because if you don't think it's difficult -- then you have no idea how it is to walk through these doors, in a body that you have served for years with a member, and see that black drape and that white rose, and realize. this body is in the process of grieving as is the people who have worked for the south carolina senate for years. charleston, s.c..

., has set an example for the country, and the how to deal with tragedies. the families of the victims have set an example for the country and how to deal with tragedy. and yes in my opinion, this south carolina senate which i love has set an example for the rest of the country into how to deal with tragedy. and how to pray for the grace to believe. we have. we would like to have spent today grieving our friend. we had a responsibility to do our business, and we have done it. and now i would say to you, to the press, to the people of this state, thank you for your attention to this matter, and

thank you for your coverage dealing with the issue that we will be back here to deal with. we have now adopted a resolution and we will be back. but i would also say to you this body, like the families in charleston, needs an opportunity to grieve. we have been here together and we need the opportunity to grieve. we need for our friend to lay in state tomorrow out in the capital, and we need to attend and celebrate senator pinckney's life. we ask you to join us in not only grieving for our friend and colleague, but celebrating his life and realize that we, like

you, although our elected officials, are human beings who heard. and we heard for the loss of our friend. and god bless him, and god bless us. thank you. >> thank you. the senator from cherokee. >> senator from cherokee is recognized. >> thank you, mr. president. senator from lexington, we are in a time of grieving. grieving our colleague. i invite you and the state of south carolina and the nation, to google the debate of the confederate flag in 2000.

if you see my speech that day, and how i feel towards the flag. that is enough about the flag for today from me. i have heard since last thursday , this subject. i have listened, i thought, i have prayed, and i continue to listen and think, and pray. and at the proper time, i will vote. but today senator, you are exactly right. today for most, this is a time of grieving. that is what we are doing now. we are grieving over our friend and colleague, senator pinckney and his eight church members. i asked south carolina and the nation to continue to grieve.

i like you, from spartanburg saw the comments of forgiveness from the victims families. i must confess to you, i'm not there. i couldn't do it. i could not forgive him. i don't forgive him. i don't. i can't. i hope i live long enough to be that kind of christian. but i'm not there yet. i confess to you, i'm not. i hope one day i can forgive him. i cannot forgive him for what he has done. i cannot forgive him for what he has done to this state. i hope i live long enough to forgive him. but at the proper time, mr. president pro tem, i want you to

bring this matter to a vote. the sooner, the better. don't let this thing faster. please just as soon as we can, let's have a vote on this matter and move on. everything that has been asked of me both sides of the aisle is what would clem want us to do. thank you, mr. president. >> thank you. proceed. senator from arlington. >> allow the majority leader from cherokee some comments to be placed in the journal. >> without objection. >> thank you mr. president. in that vein, senator from cherokee, the reason i ask to be heard, the next matter before the body is the bill that will be read across the desk. we all have a very short time to speak on that.

i thought i would take my shot on it briefly now. i thought a lot since last thursday. a very emotional day we had in this chamber. many of us, tears running down our face, could not talk. i couldn't get out of complete coherent -- a complete and coherent sentence. many of you did a great job speaking of our dear friend. we hearken back as we think about this issue we hearken back in our history in this chamber, and the senator from bowman when he got appear earlier and talked about his longevity, and indeed -- it occurred to me. the senator from lexington, you have been here longer, he served in the house. i also did.

and i was over there with the senator from bowman. that was a very interesting time in the 1970's. that makes me the third longest serving member of both bodies. and you know what i remember about those early years in the house? besides, we used to collect the wild wild west in those days. you heard us talk about it, with the ethics bill and that type of thing this year. i have had a lot of people ask me over the years, tell me about that era. tell me about that era back in the house. and we refer to it as the wild west daily? -- didn't we?

but you know it i remember, i remember in 1979, i saw on a news report that it was in the 1980's that senator kay patterson put up an amendment in the house to take down the confederate flag. well guess what? it wasn't the 1980's. it was 1979. 1979, as i remember it was in august. the legislature was still in session. i'm not sure if we were trying to get a budget. it has been so long ago. but we were down here for some reason. in august. it was as hot down here as it is right now. hot outside. i'll never forget it, i got sick that we.

deathly sick, i don't know what it was. i went back home and i was out of commission for a couple of days. and somebody voted for me. somebody had voted for me, that is the reason i remember this. we had those flip -- you've flipped them. those of you who were there remember those. as we would vote on the board. somebody just, for whatever reason, voted me on a confederate flag amendment. to take down -- or to not take down the confederate flag. funny how you remember that kind of stuff. but it brings to point right now, here we are. it was 1979 and there were many other debates over the years. we had to change the rules in the house.

because of what was done in the budget every year. i won't ever forget that. here we are 36, 37 -- 36 years later. still debating the flag. here we are. that long. my point in sharing that with you, it's time. there were a lot of scripture quoted last week, just wonderful tributes. a lot of scripture, very poignant, very meaningful to me. and we all remembered senator pinckney's great speech that he gave from this podium about thomas. i'm so glad we had the benefit

of technology and we can pull down those screens. we finally got that one down. i notice it took a little while but we got it down. and we saw once again how he weaved in the tapestry of thomas, what he was talking about in the body camera legislation. he had just come over to my seat and thanked me, chairman of judiciary for getting a bill to come forward. and then he made that speech. and he talked about having the benefit of the scene of thomas. i cannot leave it into my comments, but i looked at senator alexander a bit ago, and i talked about he might, if you wanted to use a lot of different scripture, you could pull into this discussion about after all these years -- seeing what is it, do we see that the senator from charleston started out

today seeing? understanding about this issue that has plagued our state for so many years, what is it that we see? what would the senator from jasper if he was here, what piece of scripture would he use? acts, chapter 10 came to mind. the early church, if you think about it. the early church struggled. it struggled most? with what? going out to the gentiles. and including others with the call to the gospel. now think about if they had not have done that. think about peter's vision in chapter 10. and how previously, when he got hungry, he would only eat that which was clean.

but then after having that vision in chapter 10, he understood. his eyes were opened. in the early church, it began to disperse. it began to attract other believers. but the thing is, his eyes were opened. his eyes were opened. you know what, my eyes have been opened from that 21-year-old in the house. i see over there that i did not see him until a few minutes ago the former governor of south carolina if you would join me in welcoming the former gathering -- governor. the honorable david beasley to the chamber. [applause]

i hope you will forgive me, i don't know where senator dodd and 10 went -- darlington went. anyway the former governor and i got elected to the house together. we were both 21 years old. he has a lot more hair than i do now, but in any event, i was younger by a few months then he was. he told everybody he was younger, but that's all right. [laughter] i wanted to say this. what i meant, and i did a poor job of weaving it into my comments, i thought about how senator pinckney had woven his

comments that story of thomas. think about the development of the early church. and think about our evolution. not only as believers, but also as public servants. those of us that have had the privilege of serving, over there, over here. whether our eyes have been opened, whether we had the ability to really grasp this issue from the perspective of our minority brothers. we will talk about it when we get to the bill, i'm sure. that is why we believe, why we say what we do today, about this issue as it relates to our heritage, as it relates to assemble that the people up of

-- people of south carolina, the minority community, may be offended by. that we understand that. that we care. more importantly, as in the book of acts, that we see. that we want to see. so with that, the bill will be read across the desk. the chief sponsor may make the request. i wanted to tell you, we have looked at the bill. my staff and others have reviewed the language of the bill. and we feel like the best thing to do, rather than refer it to the committee, when it is read across the desk, is that it go without reference so that we don't have that not or that hurdle to clear. i would ask you, regardless of how you feel about it, in order

to expedite matters i can pull it out and put it on the desk when we come back. but i don't see the need for a committee meeting and judiciary and i would hope that we could let it go without reference have it on the calendar, so that it would be ready when the pro tem calls us back. i would also hope mr. president pro tem that this senate, one side or the other is going to have to go first. we can both take it up on the same date. but i would hope that the senate does meet first, and we do address this issue. i don't know that it is going to be a particular issue for the house in terms of struggle to pass it. i would hope in your consultation with the speaker that the decision can be made for us to come on as the senator

from cherokee mentioned. i think we need to do it as quickly as we can. and in keeping again with what the senator of lexington said about this week, we can't do it this week for obvious reasons. we could not give the bill but one reading today. that is the other thing for those watching. you said, you are up there a bloviating and you have all this discussion, but you have not actually done anything but the resolution. we had to do that first. the second thing to understand, we can only get one reading a day. the first reading will occur today. the next reading will occur when we meet on the next day whenever that is. we could not give it another reading if we wanted to take it up today. but with that, thank you very much mr. president. >> that request to distribute to the members. >> without objection.

senator from florence. >> since you mentioned those who watched the workings of the senate signing the amendment is huge. but what they may not understand senator, until we passed that amendment, we could not do anything. so i hope the world has to understand the senate was not sitting on his hands. >> read that bill across the desk, and if we can get it without reference, it will be placed for us to take it up -- poised for us to take up when we come back. otherwise we will certainly work with you to get it out to the floor. >> thank you. senator from kershaw. >> i defer. >> thank you. unanimous consent to have the

comments. >> without objection. the clerk will please read. >> introduction of a bill, an amendment to the code removing the flag for the statehouse and capitol complex. senator from kershaw. >> i rise for a very brief explanation. i was hoping the senator from richmond was here. but senator jackson and others you were here a decade and a half ago have heard it said before that we stand on the shoulders of those who come before us. i think today we truly stand on the shoulders of those of you who began to process that this bill will finish. this bill, getting first reading today, will remove the confederate battle flag from the line of the statehouse -- the lawn of the statehouse, and will place it in the appropriate

place. and many of you who cosponsored this place, that is in the state museum, the state confederate relic. that is what this will does. i appreciate those who cosponsored. i would ask anyone who would like to cosponsor, go to the desk and let them know. i think the president -- thank the president pro tem for allowing us to take this bill up and i look forward to debating it and i believe, passing it when we come back to this the senate. thank you, senators. >> mr. president. >> from kershaw. >> with the consent and suggestion of the senator i would ask it to go without reference to be placed. >> without objection it is so ordered.

>> south carolina state lawmakers will vote later whether to remove the confederate battle flag from the statehouse grounds. on our facebook page, we are asking whether you think the flag should be removed. south carolina should vote on this. and this from brian. if somebody wants to display a recent flag on their private property fine, but not on public property. president obama travels to charleston on friday to deliver the utility -- eulogy for reverend pinckney. he was also a state senator, was one of nine people fatally shot last week in charleston. we will have live coverage on c-span. >> visiting african american church today, hillary clinton says the confederate lack should not be allowed to fly anywhere. her remarks are next on c-span.

then, the senate hearing on the reason -- recent personnel data breach. later, senator harry reid talks about the confederate flag. >> i am not one of those who believes in the psychiatric examination of people. i believe that most of these people, historians should be other catch themselves, rather than to psychoanalyze people they have never met. on the other hand when i meet people, i don't judge them on terms of whether they have a firm handshake or eye contact. but when i meet people, i try to listen to what they say. you don't learn when you are talking. he learned when they are talking. >> one of the many tragedies of richard nixon was, he was not very self-aware. endless ironies. he did have a psychiatrist. he was an internist, not technically a psychiatrist.

he said he was careful not to have nixon think he was analyzing him. but nixon went to him because he had psychosomatic illnesses in the 50's. his neck hurt, he couldn't sleep. nixon hated it, so even though he wanted to go, he hated psychiatrist. and he was afraid of looking at himself in a realistic way. one of the reasons that he said, i don't carry grudges. hello? he was one of the great grudge carriers of all time. he could be very on health reflective. -- un-self reflective. >> evan thompson talks about the defeat and inner turmoil of richard nixon -- focusing on the personal turmoil associated with the 37th president. on c-span's "q and a." >> hillary clinton visited

united church near ferguson missouri. she spoke about last week's shooting, gun background checks and the confederate flag. from road to the white house this is 90 minutes. [applause] >> somehow i'm sure all of that is not for me. [laughter] [cheers and applause] >> just kidding. thank you for your patience. it is either really hot in here or i'm having a hot flash. we hope it will conduct a little bit. we are still in a house of prayer. will you pause with me please,

for a moment of prayer. gracious god we thank you for your presence and your people that are gathered in this place. our prayer is simple, lord. open our eyes that we might see. open our years that we might hear. open our hearts, that we might receive and be changed. you are known by many names but i pray in the name i know. in the name of jesus, amen. howard thurman is one of my favorite theologians. in one of his most known books he makes this comment. " the masses of men lived with their backs, only against the wall. they are the poor, the disinherited, the dispossessed.

what is our religion say to them? for me as a preacher, that rings very shockingly true to the core of what i believe my mission is. but for us as a people, the question is still relevant. relevant. what does our nation, what does our country say to those who live with their backs against the wall? last week in charleston, north carolina, we were reminded of what patriots can do. today we certainly continue to grieve with the lives lost there. we must also take this moment to

not just focus on the one who pulled the trigger that day. on the policies, the people, and structures that are pulling the trigger daily. [applause] today we are here for a dialogue. the conversation. we hope that it is the beginning of many conversations that we will have with those who seek to be the leader of this country. in st. louis there really is a tale of two cities. we live in a region that has some of the best education that the nation has to offer.

in that same region we have children who attend unaccredited school districts. children who cannot read when they should be able to read. in this region we have health care known all over the nation. yet we have mailed in the reason -- failed to expand medicaid. and in this region you can travel a distance of 10 miles. those 10 miles can determine the difference between misery and

otherwise. we're 43rd and economic ability. we have communicated divisions in the places where we should have all of their the. there should be no question on what it means to protect and serve. no question about what it means to have justice in the. secretary clinton cannot answer all of those russians for us today. but it is important that we don't forget the lessons. we are grateful that she has chosen to come here today, to listen so that we might be heard and to give us the opportunity

to listen. so that she might be heard. i introduce to you secretary hillary clinton. [applause] secretary clinton: thank you. thank you so much, pastor tracy. thank you for welcoming me to your church. this community. and with such powerful word. i am here to listen, also to engage in the kind of open and honest discussion that i hope is happening all at ross america. last week just a few hours

before the massacre at mother emmanuel ame church, during wednesday night i will study -- bible study, i was in charleston visiting a technical school. meeting students -- black white, hispanic. who were pursuing paid internship. and learning skills. that would prepare them for the jobs of the future. i have heard their stories. i shook their hands. i have looked into their eyes. and i saw the hope and the pride that comes from doing work that is meaningful, feeling that you matter, and that there will be a place for you. that is the basic argument our country.

these young men and a few young women were doing their heart. that night word of the killing struck like a blow to the soul. how do we make sense of such an evil act? an active racist terrorism -- an act of racist terrorism perpetrated in an act of -- house of god. had we turn grief, anger, and despair into purpose and action? those of us who are christians are challenged by jesus christ to forgive 70 times seven. a daunting, even impossible task for most of us. but then we have seen that scriptural admonition in action.

isn't it amazing, remarkable even, when fear, doubt, desire for revenge might have been expected? but instead forgiveness is found. although a fundamental part of our doctrine, its practice is the most difficult thing we are ever called to do. that is what we saw on friday when one by one grieving parents , siblings and other family members looked at that young man who had taken so much from them and said -- i forgive you. wanda simmons, the granddaughter of reverend daniel's's, said " although my grandfather and other big him's died at the hands of hate, this is proof

everyone prays for your soul" she said to the killer, "so that hate wayne." their act of mercy -- so that hate won't win." their act of mercy was stunning. hate cannot win. there is no future without forgiveness, archbishop asman 22 taught us. forgiveness is the first step towards victory in any journey. i know that it's tempting to dismiss a tragedy like this as an isolated incident. to believe that in today's america bigotry is largely behind us. that institutionalized racism no longer exists. but despite our best efforts and

our highest hopes, america's long struggle with race is far from finished. we cannot hide from hard truths about race and justice. we have to name them and own them. and change them. that is why i appreciate the actions begun yesterday by the governor and other leaders of south carolina to remove the confederate battle flag from the statehouse. recognizing it as a symbol of our nation's racist past that has those -- no place in our present for our future. it should not fly there, it should not fly anywhere. [applause]

i also commend walmart or deciding to remove any product that uses it. today amazon, ebay, and sears have all that suit. i urge all sellers to do the very same. [applause] but you will know -- but you know and i know that that's just the beginning of what we have to do. the truth is equality, opportunity, civil rights in america, they are still far from where they need to be. our schools are more segregated than they were in the 1960's. nearly 6 million young americans

are out of school and out of work. think of that. the numbers are particularly high for young people of color. statistics like these are rebukes to the real progress that we have made. they pose an urgent call for us to act publicly, the, and are slowly. we should start by giving all of our children the tools and opportunities to overcome legacies in order to live up to their god-given potential. i just also of the young attending camp. in the church. i was thrilled to see that because that is the kind of commitment that we need more of. in every church, every place

until every child is reached. i learned this not from politics, but from my mother who taught me that everybody everybody needs a chance and a champion. she knew what it was like to have neither one. her own parents abandoned her. by 14 she was out on her own working as a hassle -- housemaid. years later when i was old enough to understand, i asked what kept her going. our answer was simple -- kindness along the way from someone who believed that she mattered. all lives matter. four who are -- for her was a first grade teacher who saw that she had nothing to eat at lunch and without embarrassing her brought extra food to share. the woman whose house she

cleaned to agreed to let her go to high school so long as her work got done. because those people believed in her, gave her a chance, she believed in me. she taught me to believe in the potential every american. that inspired me to go to work for the children's defense fund after loss will. inspired me to work for the legal service corporation, where i defended the rights of poor people to have lawyers. i saw lives changed because an abusive marriage ended or any legal in fiction stop. in arkansas at the law school there i supervised law students who represented clients in court and prisons. organized college scholarship funds for single-parent and led efforts for better schools and better health care.

so, i know. i know what personal kindness, political commitment, and public programs can do to help those who are trying their best to get ahead. that is why we need to build an economy for tomorrow, not yesterday. you don't have to look far from the sanctuary to see why that need is so urgent. you also don't have to look far to see that talent and potential are right here if only we unleash it. i believe that the talent is universal but that opportunity is not. we need to rebuild the american opportunity society for the 21st entry. you might ask -- how do we do that? first, start looking at the faces and the energy of the young people that i just saw downstairs. we have to start early. make sure that every four-year-old in america has access high-quality preschool.

hillary clinton: those early years are when brains develop. ectomy to lifelong success. i'm the grandmother of the most amazing, extraordinary nine-year-old in history of the world. i'm saying this because i know what the evidences. i know that 80% of your brain is developed by the age of three. we have to do more. when i say we, i mean churches, and houses of worship, i need businesses, i mean charities i mean local government. all of us need to do more. when i was first lady lady of arkansas, i struggled with this issue. we had a lot of kids in the delta and to arkansas, and up

in the mountains. we were not going to be able to afford a universal pre-k program. i look for programs that people could run themselves. i found a program in israel designed to help the children of immigrants, particularly from ethiopia who came with their parents seeking with it is freedom. they were ethiopian jews, and they had to escape. many of them had never been to school. the secret to the program called the home instruction program, was to teach the mother to teach her child. we need to do more of that. [applause] i call on all of us to find ways to reach into the families. as our kids grow up, they will need not only a good education

but the skills for tomorrow's jobs. we need tax credits for businesses that invest in apprenticeships, particularly providing opportunities for economically disadvantaged young people. in order to create those new jobs, we have to attract investment as a community. it is too often ignored, or written off. whether you live in ferguson, or west baltimore. you should have the same chance as any american anywhere to get ahead, and stay ahead. [applause] hillary clinton: we should be authorized -- we offer rise the tax credit -- reauthorize the tax credit, and small businesses in low investment areas, it should be permanent. a lot of new jobs will come from small businesses. we know that women, and people of color face extra hurdles becoming entrepreneurs.

it is hard to find the support networks, it is harder to get that loan. we have to do more to knock down the barriers of every good idea can get a fair hearing, nh is to create a new business. and raise their income. [applause] we must do all we can to be sure our communities respect law enforcement. and that law enforcement respect the communities they serve. [applause] hillary clinton: we need to come together for common sense gun reform to keep our community safe. [applause] [cheers] the key to all of this is revitalizing upper democracy and persuaded the 50 million americans who do not vote, that by not voting, they make it possible for people who do not agree with them, do not support the aspirations, to call the

shots. [applause] earlier this month, i went to texas southern university to speak out against systematic efforts to get power, and disenfranchised young power -- evil -- people. we need early voting in the state, and universal voter registration. [applause] i think every young american, when they turn 18, should be universally automatically registered unless they say no. [applause] [cheers] if we restate the fabric of our communities, we will only do so if all americans do their part.

i grew up in the methodist church. my mother taught sunday school. she made sure -- she did it to keep an eye on my brothers. she was tehre to make sure they showed up. she also made sure we had the wisdom of john wesley, the founder of methodism. to do all the good you can, by although ways you can and other places you can, and all the times you can, to all the people you can, as long as you can. that, more than prayer -- [applause] it meant we had to step out of the church, roll up our sleeves and get to work. i was blessed with a wonderful youth minister who took some of us into chicago to hear dr. martin luther king jr. speak. i grew up in all white

middle-class suburb. i do not have a black friend, neighbor, or classmate until i went to college -- did not have a black friend, neighbor, or classmate to delay went to college. i leapt at the chance to hear dr. king's words. the sermon was titled " remaining awake. he challenged us to stay with the cause of justice. not to slumber while the world changed around us. i think that is good advice for all of us today. we should all commit to stay away, and stay active, to be out -- do our part. never stop working for a stronger, more prosperous, more inclusive america. government has a big part of the responsibility to promote the

growth, fairness, and justice. but so do all of us. in quite moments, and the days ahead, in honest conversation let's talk about what each of us can, and should do. because ultimately, this is all about the habits of our hearts, how we treat each other, how we learned this the the humanity and those around us. how we teach our children to see that humanity to. we don't have to look far for examples. those nine righteous men, and women who invited a stranger into their midst to study the bible with them. someone who did not look like them. someone they had never seen before. their example, and their memory, show us the way. their families, their church does, as well.

let us be resolved to make sure they did not die in vain. do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. thank you, and god bless you. [applause] [applause] >> thank you for this poignant words, secretary clinton. just so everyone understands how we will do this. all my life, i wanted to be oprah. [laughter] just kidding. i like my life. we are sister churches, right

across the grass from one another. when the call came for us to have this opportunity, it was important we do it together. you get two opera's -- oprahs. we have invited people we hope will share a comprehensive view of what is good about our region, what is challenging, and how they have come up with innovative ways to make a difference. because st. louis is a show me state, it would not be complete if we did not have an opportunity for the audience to also be involved. we passed out cards ahead of time. at the end of the discussion we will choose a card, or question, and involved that as well. i thought it would start the

discussion with dr. jason parnell. he has a great fan base. he is also the lead author of a comprehensive look at what is challenging in our region. talking with them first will provide a backdrop for the rest of the conversation. dr. parnell: thank you ray much, reverend blackman. hello? is that better? thank you. thank you for a. i did want to share the work that we have been doing for the sake of all which are started as a collaboration between scholars of washington university at st. louis, and st. louis university. just over a year ago, we released this report -- a

comprehensive report looking at disparities through the lens of what we call the social determinants. not just outcomes, looking at educational, economic, and residential neighborhood factors that lead to health disparities. one of the most striking out comes talk about an average region is an 18 year gap in life expectancy between two zip codes. between north st. louis city, and am really african-american, and the jeff van loon neighborhood and st. louis county, predominately white. less than 10 miles of geography, and an 18 year gap in life expectancy. what we unpacked is what is different about various areas of our region. i started calling it the geography of any quality.

what is different is unemployment rates almost four times as high for african-americans a median income that is less than half. the health outcomes that a company that, such as a baby b eing more than three times as likely to die before their first birthday. a homicide rate for african americans is 12 times as high as it is for whites into lewis county -- or st. louis city, and st. louis county. where not just focus on disparities, we are also focus on solutions and talking about how addressing social determinants impacts everyone, regardless of their race, or socioeconomic status in st. louis. live indicated six areas. i was happy to hear you talk about early childhood. investing in high quality early childhood for all children is recommendation number one.

treating economic opportunity recommendation number two. investing in coordinated school-based health care is another recommendation. investing in the full gambit of mental health services. from stigma reduction, the awareness of treatment. investing in healthy neighborhoods. so than a matter where you live in st. louis. you want to be able to find fresh fruits and vegetables. and safe places to recreate. and addressing chronic, and infectious disease prevention and management. so, all of these factors interact but we believe there are evidence-based, and community informed solutions to these solutions. we've engage the community. we've engage local, and state policymakers. with engage business leaders.

we are in the process of translating the work we did in the report into a series of discussion guides, and action toolkits. an operation called focus st. louis, to give community members tools to respond to the areas of recommendation. we just said dr. anderson come out for a community-based health and health care talk. we are very focused on what can be the entire st. louis region do to move forward. hillary clinton: i really commend you on doing this project, because i think it is long overdue that we really dig into the data to try to understand what the disparities are, what the sources of them are, and what are some of the solutions. if all we do is complain, or criticize, without coming up with a good base of evidence,

and a good set of recommendations, it is hard to build political, and public support. i want to just follow up on something you said. this is not only true in this region, between st. louis city and the county, it is true across the country. what they are doing is important because we have to put it all together from coast-to-coast. just focusing here, i think there are a number of strategies that could be deployed, that would be self-help strategies community-based strategies neighborhoods, individual families, churches businesses, and the next step should be to look at what the contribution, everybody in the private sector, and the public sector, can make. and then put out what those contributions can be, and in lists people t