Jenny Horne: Descendant of president of Confederacy delivers emotional speech to help oust his flag from South Carolina

The 42-year-old spoke for four powerful minutes

Jenny Horne

Of all the speeches delivered during the debate over the future of the Confederate flag flying in the grounds of the South Carolina statehouse, few could have contained more passioned than that of Jenny Horne.

The white Republican and a descendant of Confederate president Jefferson Davis, spoke for four minutes late on Wednesday evening as the lower chamber of the state legislature considered the bill.

“I cannot believe that we do not have the heart in this body to do something meaningful such as take a symbol of hate off these grounds on Friday,” said Ms Horne, 42, her face streaked with tears.

“For the widow of Sen. Pinckney and his two young daughters, that would be adding insult to injury.”

Shortly after Ms Horne's speech, the house voted 93-27 to approve a bill to remove the flag.