In South Carolina, renewed NAACP boycott doesn't spark new drive to oust Confederate flag

The Confederate flag — a divisive symbol in the U.S. — flutters 30 feet (9 meters) above one of this city's busiest streets, drawing a mix of head shakes and shrugs from South Carolina residents. Civil rights groups and other critics call the Confederate battle flag a symbol of slavery and racism. Advocates say it is an emblem of Southern pride and heritage. The flag dates to the 1860s when a group of pro-slavery southern states seceded from the rest of the United States, sparking the U.S. Civil War. The banner used to fly atop the statehouse dome until eight years ago, when it was moved after protests. Although some are upset that it was relocated, others say they like it in its current spot beside a memorial to Confederate soldiers. Some echo a recent call by civil rights group the National Association for the Advancement... [read full story]