Activist Scales Flagpole to Remove Confederate Flag From South Carolina's Capitol

UPDATE 8:17 a.m. ET: State employees have replaced the Confederate flag the activist took down earlier this morning.

Original story below.

Early Saturday morning a black woman scaled the flag pole where the Confederate flag flew on South Carolina's Capitol grounds and removed the flag herself.

According to CNN, Bree Newsome, climbed the flag pole at approximately 6:30 a.m., in Columbia, S.C.

Breaking: Activists in South Carolina are now taking down the confederate flag at state Capitol. pic.twitter.com/bDsZPbzD87

— Ferguson Action (@fergusonaction) June 27, 2015

#keepitdown #droptheflag I pic.twitter.com/ARuS4F7kyO

— Ferguson Action (@fergusonaction) June 27, 2015

Climber has been arrested. Battle flag in tow and it no longer flies above the Capitol. pic.twitter.com/2xxPHNiRHe

— Ferguson Action (@fergusonaction) June 27, 2015

The flag is gone. All props to local organizers for this amazing action. #keepitdown pic.twitter.com/MaZbJWlVXP

— Ferguson Action (@fergusonaction) June 27, 2015

Newsome was immediately arrested when she climbed back to the ground.

“We removed the flag today because we can’t wait any longer,” Newsome said in a press release sent to the Guardian. “It’s time for a new chapter where we are sincere about dismantling white supremacy and building toward true racial justice and equality.”

The issue of the Confederate flag has been a divisive topic in the Palmetto State over the past week when police say a 21-year-old gunned down nine members of Emanual African Methodist Espiscopal Church in Charleston, South Carolina in an attempt to start a race war.

South Carolina's state legislature voted to discuss whether or not to remove the flag, but until then it is still to remain on Capitol grounds above a Confederate war memorial.

This story has been updated to include Newsome's statement to the Guardian.