it was added in 1956 to send a message that georgia was against integrating schools. here's how abrams defended herself in tonight's debate. >> 26 years ago as a college freshman, i along with many other georgians, including the governor of georgia, were deeply disturbed by the racial divisiveness that was embedded in the state flag with that confederate symbol. i took an action of peaceful protest. i said that that was wrong, and ten years later my opponent, brian kemp, actually voted to remove that symbol. >> so there is a long history of protesting the confederate symbol, and abrams was on the right side of history. in 2003 it was completely removed from georgia's flag. but the state's history with race keeps coming up in this campaign. abrams wants a giant carving of stone mountain, a confederate memorial, removed. and her opponent, brian kemp, is promising to protect it, it and other historical monuments from, quote, the radical left.