The contentious flying of the Civil War battle flag, seen by some as a symbol of lingering racist sentiment in the American South, but by others as a hallmark of Southern pride and heritage, has returned to the spotlight since the massacre.
The flag's 24/7 presence, alongside a memorial to Confederate war dead on the lush green State House lawn, has been a point of friction in South Carolina for years.
Walmart, the largest retailer in the country, announced it would remove all merchandise bearing the Confederate flag from its stores, saying such items had "improperly" found their way onto store shelves
"The time has come for the Confederate battle flag to move from a public position in front of the state capitol to a place of history, the state museum, the Confederate museum," said Charleston Mayor Joseph Riley, a Democrat
South Carolina Senator Tim Scott agreed that the flag "represents pain and oppression" for those who don't support it.
"It is time for the flag to come down," added Scott, the first black Republican congressman from the South since the Reconstruction era that followed the Civil War.
State senator Marlon Kimpson said he was prepared to bring legislation to remove the flag as early as Tuesday and urged citizens to put pressure on their elected representatives.
Removing the flag from the State House grounds by law requires a decision by the Republican-dominated legislature, now in summer recess.
South Carolina's Republican Governor Nikki Haley said she would call lawmakers back into session to debate the measure if they did not act to do so themselves.
"There will be a time for discussion and debate, but the time for action is coming soon," she said.
"My hope is by removing a symbol that divides us, we can move forward as a state in harmony and honor the nine blessed souls who are now in heaven."
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