Columbia - The battle over the lowering of a Confederate flag, seen as a symbol of racism, has left deep divisions in the state legislature.
The House debate that led to approval of a plan to move the flag from the statehouse dome to a Civil War monument in front of the capitol has angered black politicians who wanted the flag removed from the capitol grounds.
"I can say today that I'm truly ashamed of South Carolina . . . a state that prides itself on flying the Confederate battle flag", said Mr Leon Howard, a black Democrat from Columbia.