ABC, CBS, NBC, CNN, MSNBC and Fox News all went live to cover the historic removal of the confederate flag from the South Carolina State House on Friday.
All three cable news network’s were silent as the flag was taken down at 10:09 a.m. ET.
The broadcast networks broke into their regular programming to cover the moment.
After the flag removal, CNN and MSNBC stayed on the story while Fox News pivoted to a segment on four Americans imprisoned in Iran shortly after. The network returned to covering the flag removal in an interview with South Carolina Senator and presidential candidate Lindsey Graham.
“USA, USA, USA” and “Nah Nah Nah Hey Hey Hey Goodbye” were chanted by the large crowd as the flag was taken down.
The flag became a hotbed cultural issue after nine African Americans were shot dead in a Charleston, South Carolina church on June 17th. The shooter, Dylann Roof, had taken several pictures holding the confederate flag.
State military officials carefully wrapped the flag up before it is moved to the South Carolina Confederate Relic Room and Military Museum.
The confederate flag had flown at the State House for more than 50 years.