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Letters: Confederate Flag Debate

RACHEL MARTIN, HOST:

Let's get to your letters now. No surprise our inbox is filled with comments on this week's debate over the Confederate battle flag. Some of you wrote after Monday's interview with Doug Brannon. He's a Republican in the South Carolina House.

AUDIE CORNISH, HOST:

Here's a bit of his chat with our colleague Melissa Block.

MELISSA BLOCK, BYLINE: You been in the South Carolina House for five years. Had you thought about doing anything about the Confederate flag before this?

DOUG BRANNON: I'm ashamed to tell you no. I should've done it five years ago. It shouldn't have been the death of these nine incredible people. I should've done it, but I didn't, and I apologize for that.

CORNISH: Becky Alderman of Brevard, N.C., told us she found Brannon refreshingly honest. She also writes (reading) I found myself asking if he, Governor Haley and others are just saying what is politically correct at this point in time. But even if their words don't truly reflect what's in their hearts, if the result is removing the Confederate flag then I'll be grateful for that.

MARTIN: We also heard from listeners supporting the flag. Mark Cradduck of Pampa, Texas, is one of them. He writes (reading) you might consider that the freedom of expression you wish to deny us is the same one that protects you.

And Eric Osterberg of Hanover, N.H., took issue with our coverage. He wrote this after hearing from the leader of the Traditional Youth Network supporting the flag. (Reading) I was extremely disappointed in NPR for giving air time to a member of a group that favors the separation of the races.

MARTIN: We're always reading what you write, so keep the letters coming. Send us a note through our website. You can click on Contact at the very bottom of the page at NPR.org. Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR.