Bree Newsome left jail Saturday night only hours after removing the Confederate Flag from a flagpole in front of the South Carolina state capitol. The 30 year-old activist from Charlotte, N.C. was apprehended Saturday morning for using climbing gear to scale the flag pole, after which she plucked the brazenly waving symbol of America's antiquated and racist past off of its cable, for a brief moment, out of the Columbia sky.
According to the International Business Times, Newsome and another activist reportedly face charges including possible fines of $5,000 and up to three years in prison, but thanks to the quick response of other activists and supporters on social media and a successful IndieGoGo campaign, over $115,000 has been raised for Newsome's bail payments and legal fees. What's more, a campaign is underway to have all charges against the two activsits dropped (currently Newsome and Jimmy Tyson, her accomplice, are up against "defacing monuments on state capitol grounds" charges). ColorOfChange.org is currently running the campaign, which encourages supports to sign up for news alerts and information on how best to assist Newsome as she faces possible prosecution for her righteous deed. "She should be promptly released from jail, any charges should be dropped, and the legislature should immediately vote to permanently remove the flag," Color of Change wrote.
Following Newsome's actions, South Carolina officials returned the Confederate flag to its position atop the flag pole in less than an hour. A #FreeBree campaign on Twitter continues to push for not only for the rescinding of Newsome's charges but a lasting removal of the Confederate banner from its government-sanctioned perch.
