Activist Brittany "Bree" Newsome is being hailed as a hero for climbing up a 30-foot flagpole outside the South Carolina state Capitol and removing the Confederate flag on Saturday.

Wearing climbing gear and a helmet, the 30-year-old activist climbed up the flagpole early Saturday morning just hours before a pro-Confederate flag rally was held at the monument in Columbia.

"We removed the flag today because we can't wait any longer. We can't continue like this another day," Newsome said, explaining her motivation to remove the flag in a statement released through the #BlackLivesMatter movement, reports Rolling Stone.

"It's time for a new chapter where we are sincere about dismantling white supremacy and building toward true racial justice and equality."

After removing the flag, Newsome was arrested along with activist James Tyson, who helped her remove her climbing gear. Both were charged with a misdemeanor offense for defacing a monument. However, Newsome posted bond and was released from jail later that afternoon.

Although a new Confederate flag was put up at the state Capitol within an hour, Newsome's act of civil disobedience quickly went viral and garnered lots of support from people online. A number of politicians, activists and supporters used the hashtag #FreeBree to commend her for her courage.

"Her actions represent a nation that is saying NO MORE of letting this symbol of white supremacy fly," said the wife of New York City Major Bill de Blasio, Chirlane McCray, in a tweet.

"We thank God that @BreeNewsome had the courage to take the flag down! #KeepItDown #FreeBree," tweeted civil rights leader Rev. Jesse Jackson.

Joshua Thicklin tweeted, "Thank you @BreeNewsome for doing something that should've been done over 150 years ago. #FreeBree."

The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) also released a statement applauding Newsome and likening her actions to those of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

"As well as supporting the permanent removal of the flag legislatively, we commend the courage and moral impulse of Ms. Newsome as she stands for justice like many NAACP activists including Henry David Thoreau, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and numerous Americans who have engaged in civil disobedience," NAACP President Cornell William Brooks said in a statement, reports CNN.

The controversial flag was raised over the State House in 1961 to mark the 100-year anniversary of the Civil War. It was also raised as a symbol of white resistance to the growing Civil Rights movement and effort to end segregation.