The South Carolina Senate has given final approval to a measure to remove the Confederate battle flag from the Capitol grounds. The final tally was 36 to 3. The vote came 20 days after the massacre of nine African-American churchgoers in Charleston by a white suspect who embraced the Confederate flag. The wife of one of the massacre victims, South Carolina state Senator Reverend Clementa Pinckney, visited the Senate chambers after the measure passed. State Senator Gerald Malloy addressed the family.

Sen. Gerald Malloy: “As you know, Ms. Pinckney, this state loved Senator Pinckney. And this state loves you and your girls, and they love the entire Pinckney family. And we will keep our arms wrapped around you and this family forever. It’s the least that we can do for our brother, Clementa. And we hope to have you back here soon when we hang his portrait and so that he’ll be sharing this spot with us forever.”

The Confederate flag’s fate now rests with the South Carolina House. Meanwhile, activists from Charleston and a nephew of massacre victim Myra Thompson are heading to the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., today to press lawmakers to approve legislation on gun control.