Like something out of a comic book….

So just in case you missed it while you were celebrating the SCOTUS ruling on Marriage equality this weekend, there is one more reason to celebrate. The world gained one more hero over the weekend, and her name is Bree Newsome. This past Saturday morning, Newsome, a 30 year old filmmaker, musician, and activist scaled the pole in Columbia, South Carolina that flies the Confederate battle flag. Here is a short video of the event:

While she was up on the pole, holding that symbol in her hand, she declared, “You come against me with hatred and oppression and violence…. I come against you in the name of God. This Flag come down today!” And then, after she finished her act of civil disobedience and climbed down, she put her hands behind her back and got arrested. And yes, I realize what she did was illegal, but as @WillBrianna tweeted so perfectly:

Within hours, the hashtag #FreeBree was trending…. But don’t worry, there have been many people who have offered to pay her bond and court costs. Before Bree Newsome spent a couple days learning how to climb a pole, before she put on her black superhero clothes–fully expecting to get arrested–and took down that flag, she tweeted a few things worth reading:

Those are some tough questions…. Within hours of being taken down, that symbol of the “hatred and violence and oppression” that Bree Newsome spoke of was raised right back up that flagpole. You might wonder then…. What’s the point? Well, here’s your answer:

It’s still up right now. And even though we don’t have one less symbol of hatred and violence and oppression right now, we DO have ONE MORE symbol of bravery and sacrifice and love…. And that’s worth something. That’s worth a whole lot. What a time to be alive!

Drawing by @Niall_JayDub

Take it down. And keep it down.