The Confederate flag has been lowered outside an East Texas courthouse where it flew to commemorate Confederate History Month.
Members of a Palestine, Texas, chapter of the Sons of Confederate Veterans lowered the flag Monday night, just as the Palestine City Council was meeting to call for its removal.
Doug Smith told the Fort Worth Star-Telegram that his group decided to remove the flag instead of letting someone else do it.
Last week, Anderson County commissioners narrowly voted to fly the flag to honor those who died in the Civil War.
When it was raised Friday in the town 100 miles southeast of Dallas, however, some residents turned their backs.
Protesters say the flag represents the South's support for slavery.
Copyright AP - Associated Press
