Last Week Tonight briefly tackled the Confederate flag on Sunday; although many politicians have defended it in the aftermath of the church shooting last week in Charleston, John Oliver said, “I believe the first time the Confederate flag was used in a racist way was the exact second they finished sewing the very first one. It was around that time.”
He also offered some advice for those wondering what to do with the flag outside the South Carolina Capitol — which can only be taken down after a vote by the state legislature.
“Now might be a great time,” Oliver said, “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. 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 some place no one can see.”
