Story highlights Bill to remove Confederate flag from South Carolina statehouse grounds clears hurdle

Roll call vote to allow debate on the bill passes with 103 members voting in favor

(CNN) The effort to remove the Confederate flag from South Carolina's statehouse cleared a key hurdle with an overwhelming show of support in the state legislature.

A roll call vote to allow debate on the bill passed with 103 members voting in favor. Ten voted against and 10 others did not vote. The state Senate advanced the legislation with a voice vote that Sen. Tom Davis (R) tells CNN passed with 42 voting in support and three against.

"AC360" reached out to every member of South Carolina's House and Senate to find out where they stand. These are some of the statements we received.

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Sen. Karl B. Allen (D) says he is voting to remove the flag and invoked the words of his slain colleague, Sen. Clementa Pinckney, who was killed at the Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church shooting.

"I echo his voice, his voice echoes in my mind that we should do the right thing with regards to the divisiveness, the hatred, the circumstances that the Confederate flag brings on South Carolina currently.

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