Protesters gathered outside the South Carolina Capitol on Tuesday to protest the Confederate flag. Debate over the flag was prompted by the killing of nine people in a historic black church in Charleston, South Carolina. While the American and South Carolina flags were lowered to half-staff in honor of the shooting victims, the Confederate flag was not, as it’s South Carolina law for the flag to flyat the top of its staff* next to the Confederate Soldier’s Monument on the statehouse grounds. South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley (R) called for the removal of the flag on Monday. South Carolina state lawmakers took up the issue…

Protesters gathered outside the South Carolina Capitol on Tuesday to protest the Confederate flag.

Debate over the flag was prompted by the killing of nine people in a historic black church in Charleston, South Carolina. While the American and South Carolina flags were lowered to half-staff in honor of the shooting victims, the Confederate flag was not, as it’s South Carolina law for the flag to flyat the top of its staff* next to the Confederate Soldier’s Monument on the statehouse grounds.

South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley (R) called for the removal of the flag on Monday. South Carolina state lawmakers took up the issue Tuesday.

Below, photos from protests outside the Capitol:

confederate 3Protesters hold signs as they chant during a rally to take down the Confederate flag at the South Carolina Statehouse, Tuesday, June 23, 2015, in Columbia, S.C.

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Protesters embrace in front of the South Carolina Statehouse in Columbia, S.C., during a rally protesting the Confederate flag on June 23, 2015.

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Protesters hold signs as they chant during a rally to take down the Confederate flag at the South Carolina Statehouse, Tuesday, June 23, 2015, in Columbia, S.C. The shooting deaths of nine people at a black church in Charleston, S.C, have reignited calls for the Confederate flag flying on the grounds of the Statehouse in Columbia to come down.

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Kirt Moody, of Columbia, S.C., holds a sign during a rally to take down the Confederate flag at the South Carolina Statehouse, Tuesday, June 23, 2015, in Columbia, S.C.

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Protesters hold signs as they chant during a rally to take down the Confederate flag at the South Carolina Statehouse, Tuesday, June 23, 2015, in Columbia, S.C.

#TakeItDown

A photo posted by HOT 103.9 / 93.9 Columbia, SC (@hot1039sc) on

#TakeItDown

A photo posted by HOT 103.9 / 93.9 Columbia, SC (@hot1039sc) on

#TakeItDown

A photo posted by HOT 103.9 / 93.9 Columbia, SC (@hot1039sc) on

#takedowntheflag

A photo posted by Kristie Ferguson (@justcallkristie) on

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Protesters Rally Against Confederate Flag At South Carolina Statehouse