The state legislature of South Carolina has voted to open debate removing the Confederate Flag from its State House. Senator Charles Grassley (R – Iowa) shared with KCII News he feels the flag should be taken down. He says the flag is a symbol of hatred and may be historical but doesn’t lend itself to the future. He adds it represents the states that seceded from the Union, who were enemies from 1861 to 1865.

Calls to remove the flag from the South Carolina State House came after nine people were shot to death at the Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Charleston last week. The nine church-goers were killed by a 21-year-old who had posed with the flag as a symbol of white supremacy.

For the complete interview with Grassley listen to today’s Washington Page.