This emotional speech by South Carolina State Rep. Jenny Anderson Horne will be difficult for some to view. Within seconds, the voice of this Republican from Dorchester Country begins to shake. And within a minute, her words begin to emulate the feelings of millions around world who are more than ready to see the SC Confederate symbol of hate, finally come down.
Here is the transcript of State House Rep. Jenny Anderson Horne in front of her colleagues on July 8, 2015:
"Thank you, Mr. Speaker for your indulgence tonight, and I know the hour is late, so I will be brief.
As a member of the Charleston delegation, I would like to express to you how important it is that we not amend this bill. And the reason we need not amend this bill at this time is because if we amend the bill in any form or fashion, it is going to a conference committee. It is not going to end quickly. We are going to be doing this all summer long.
Ms. Horn begins to pull the country's heartstrings, right about here:
Let me tell you: I attended the funeral of Senator Clementa Pinckney and the people of Charleston deserve immediate and swift removal of that flag from this grounds. We can save for another day where this flag needs to go, where the— which flag needs to fly, or where it needs to fly or what museum it needs to be in, but the immediate — I’m concerned as a member of the Charleston delegation and speaking on behalf of the people in Charleston, this flag offends my friend Mia McCloud, my friend John King, my friend Reverend Neal … …
I cannot believe that we do not have the heart in this body to do something meaningful, such as take a symbol of hate off these grounds on Friday. And if any of you vote to amend, you are ensuring that this flag will fly beyond Friday. And for the widow of Senator Pinckney and his two young daughters that would be adding insult to injury, and I will not be a part of it. And for all of these reasons, I will not vote to amend this bill today.
We may visit this another session, another year. But if we amend this bill, we are telling the people of Charleston, “We don’t care about you. We do not care that someone used this symbol of hate to slay eight innocent people who were worshipping their god.”
I’m sorry. I have heard enough about “heritage.” I have a heritage. I am a life-long South Carolinian. I am a descendant of Jefferson Davis. Okay? But that does not matter. It’s not about Jenny Horne. It’s about the people of South Carolina who have demanded that this symbol of hate come off of the Statehouse grounds. And I will tell you I do know, and I have it on good authority, that the world is watching this debate, and there is an economic development prospect in Dorchester County that is in jeopardy because we refuse to act. We need to follow the example of the Senate: Remove this flag and do it today, because this issue is not getting any better with age.
Thank you." (applause)
Here is the
YouTube video of Representative Horne's speech:
Respect where respect is due. We are not of the same party, but we are of the same human spirit.
Thank you, Congressmember Horne. Here is her Facebook page if you'd like to read her comments and share your thoughts with her.
UPDATE: Per MTMofo's diary, the house voted to remove the Confederate flag, 94-20, early Thursday morning. (On Monday, the SC Senate voted to have the flag removed.) SC Governor Nikki Haley is expected to sign the bill once it arrives on her desk.
So there it is. Something good just happened.
Special thanks to MEG with Facebook page, Lady Grey, for sharing this.