In the wake of the shooting of nine AME church parishioners in Charleston, South Carolina, by a racist who shall remain nameless in this post, the question has arisen once again: shall South Carolina remove the Confederate battle flag that flies on the State House grounds in Columbia?

On Saturday, former presidential candidate Mitt Romney made his views known on Twitter:

Take down the #ConfederateFlag at the SC Capitol. To many, it is a symbol of racial hatred. Remove it now to honor #Charleston victims.

— Mitt Romney (@MittRomney) June 20, 2015

Presidential candidate Jeb Bush weighed in later in the day on Twitter and Facebook:

My position on how to address the Confederate flag is clear. In Florida, we acted, moving the flag from the state grounds to a museum where it belonged. This is obviously a very sensitive time in South Carolina and our prayers are with the families, the AME church community and the entire state. Following a period of mourning, there will rightly be a discussion among leaders in the state about how South Carolina should move forward and I’m confident they will do the right thing.

South Carolina Senator and Presidential candidate Lindsey Graham supported the flag.

And on Saturday evening, a #TakeItDown rally was held at the State House in Columbia to protest the presence of the flag.

Another look at the #TakeItDown rally in Columbia, SC. Around 2,000 here, I'd say. pic.twitter.com/OFPxRK3QlW

— Colin Daileda (@ColinDaileda) June 20, 2015

My take on the embattled battle flag?