File this one under “Getting Stuff Done.” A woman in South Carolina climbed a flag pole outside of the state capitol building to remove the Confederate flag… and it wasn’t Governor Nikki Haley.
The woman is Bree Newsome— singer, songwriter, filmmaker, director, producer, and activist. As the sun rose this morning, Newsome made her way up the flag pole, ignoring police demands to come back down. After accomplishing what she set out to do, Newsome eventually returned to the ground, quoting scripture while clutching the symbol of hate in her hand.
Upon her descent, she was immediately arrested. Within hours, the hashtag #FreeBree was trending on Twitter and questions about a bail fundraiser began to float around. The flag will be returned to its position, flying high above the South Carolina state capitol building where it will remain until Governor Nikki Haley decides to take action and remove it permanently.
Aside from her activism, Newsome is an accomplished filmmaker and singer. Her song, Stay Strong, was inspired by the events in Ferguson, Missouri.
Her animated short, The Three Princes of Idea, earned her a scholarship in high school from the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. She attended New York University as an undergrad and received her BFA from the Tisch School of the Arts. Her music talents also earned her a scholarship in the Maryland Distinguished Scholars Competition and she was awarded a Paderewski Medal from the National Piano Guild.
Newsome was previously arrested during a sit-in at the North Carolina State Capitol where she was acting as an advocate for voter’s rights.
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