The Confederate flag was removed from South Carolina's statehouse by an activist in climbing gear

Although the governor of South Carolina this week called for the state to stop flying the Confederate battle flag outside public buildings, one activist has decided to do the job for them.

Replete with climbing ropes, Bree Newsome scaled the huge flagpole outside the statehouse in Columbia on Saturday morning and ripped down the ensign that was used by the pro-slavery Confederate states in the American Civil War.

Police reportedly arrived when Newsome was half way up the pole and demanded that she climb down. However, she continued to the top and removed the flag.

We removed the flag today because we can't wait any longer. We can't continue like this another day. It's time for a new chapter where we are sincere about dismantling white supremacy and building toward true racial justice and equality.

• Bree Newsome statement via Black Lives Matter

CNN reports that two people were arrested and charged with defacing a public monument. The flag was raised again shortly afterwards.

As well as the #keepitdown hashtag trending on Twitter, people are now tweeting #FreeBree in response to her actions.

Use of the flag has come under increased scrutiny in recent days since the murder of nine black churchgoers in Charleston, South Carolina. Dylan Roof, the 21-year-old white man who has been charged with the murders, was seen in several pictures online posing with the flag.

Images via Reuters

More: Perhaps America should pull down this stupid, racist statue as well as the Confederate flag