South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley signed legislation on Thursday to permanently remove the Confederate battle flag from the state capitol grounds, following an emotional debate spurred by the massacre of nine black churchgoers last month.
Haley signed the bill into law in the State House Rotunda before an audience of legislators and dignitaries shortly after 4 p.m. EDT (2000 GMT), and her office said the flag would be taken down at 10 a.m. (1400 GMT) on Friday.
"The Confederate flag is coming off the grounds of the South Carolina State House," Haley said to cheers and applause. "We will bring it down with dignity and we will make sure it is put in its rightful place."
South Carolina plans to keep Friday's flag relocation "as low-key as the national media will let us," said Haley spokeswoman Chaney Adams.
The rebel banner will go to the "relic room" of South Carolina's military museum in Columbia, the state capital.
