In a historic move of national consequence, the state of Mississippi will no longer fly the United States’ last-standing flag inspired by the battle emblem of the Confederate states.
On Tuesday, state governor Tate Reeves signed a bill which meant Mississippi would have to have a new flag after 126 years which will not bear the red, white and blue stripes of the Confederacy.
Mississippi’s state legislature passed the bill on Sunday after the debate was caused by Black Lives Matter protests across the country. A new flag will be decided in November.
In a statement, Gov. Reeves said, “This is not a political moment to me but a solemn occasion to lead our Mississippi family to come together, to be reconciled, and to move on.”
The Republican governor believed the retirement of the flag was an opportunity for “a resilient people defined by our hospitality.” He added, “We are a people of great faith. Now, more than ever, we must lean on that faith, put our divisions behind us, and unite for a greater good.”
But Reeves spared some words for proponents of the flag and Confederacy paraphernalia.
“I know there are people of goodwill who are not happy to see this flag changed. They fear a chain reaction of events erasing our history — a history that is no doubt complicated and imperfect. I understand those concerns and [I] am determined to protect Mississippi from that dangerous outcome.”
Mississippi was one of the most horrific places for black people after the Civil War. It was at the heart of anti-black racism and the state, along with Alabama, were known for their most rigorous segregationist policies.
These days, it is common to see Mississippi dramatized and satirized as America’s bastion of anti-black racism.
Mississippi was the last state in the U.S to ratify the 13th amendment which outlawed slavery in 1995. It was also the last state to submit its ratification to the U.S. archivist in 2013, prompting some historians to say the state only outlawed slavery in 2013.
Pacers star Tyrese Haliburton has said that his little brother was subjected to racial abuse,…
Reggie Bush has regained his place as the 2005 Heisman Trophy winner after over a…
Since 2012, actor Nick Cannon has openly shared his struggle with lupus to support others…
Former USC superstar Caleb Williams has been drafted by the Chicago Bears as the No.…
Stephen A. Smith is an ESPN analyst. People widely regard him as the face of…
Lil Durk is an American rapper and one of the most influential voices in the…
In 2022, Kevin Hart added a new title to his impressive resume: a tequila entrepreneur.…
AEW's latest pay-per-view, Dynasty 2024 on Sunday night saw Swerve Strickland defeat Samoa Joe to…
Renowned civil rights activist Opal Lee, known as the "Grandmother of Juneteenth," will be awarded…
Violet Horne lost her two sons to gun violence within the space of a month.…
An Ohio man said a K-9 bit him seven times after he was pulled over…
Three male foreign tourists who were spotted posing naked in a popular dune in Namibia…
Will.i.am is partnering with other prominent figures to revolutionize the digital media scene by forming…
Sabelle Beraki's childhood was inundated with the lack of representation when it came to a…
Benjamin Harvey is the founder of AI Squared, a third-party software company that helps organizations…