HBO's John Oliver Says What South Carolina Should Do With the Confederate Flag

HBO's "Last Week Tonight with John Oliver" opened Sunday night with the story of the Charleston church massacre and the renewed controversy swirling over the Confederate flag flying over South Carolina's state Capitol in Columbia.

Attention has focused on the Confederate flag after Dylann Roof allegedly opened fire at the black church in what is being investigated as a hate crime. Politicians from President Barack Obama to 2012 Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney have said it's time for the flag to come down. South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley will be holding a news conference Monday afternoon to address the issue.

After explaining the procedures that South Carolina needs to follow to do anything with the flag — a two-thirds majority vote of both of the state legislative houses must approve any change — Oliver offered his suggestion on what should be done.

"Now might be a great time, out of respect not just for the events of this week, but for the events of the past several centuries, to take that vote and lower the flag down to half-staff. And then, when it's at half-staff, why not keep lowering it, all the way down? And once you're holding it in your hands, take it off the flagpole completely, fold it, or don't bother. Put it in a box, label it 'bad flag,' and put it somewhere no one can see it."

Watch:

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