In the midst of the racism debate in the United States, the state of the southern state of Mississippi has decided to change its controversial flag. The flag, which has been in force since 1894, commemorates the former slave owners in the south, the so-called Confederates. The southern states fought in vain with the north from 1861 to 1865 to maintain slavery.
After the House of Representatives in the capital, Jackson, Mississippi’s Senate also voted to set up a working group to design a new flag. This should then no longer contain an element of a St. Andrew’s Cross with 13 stars, also known colloquially as the “Southern Flag”.
The Confederate flag: Critics see it as a symbol of racism and slavery
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The decision was made by a large majority. Eyewitnesses said the flag above Parliament was brought up just minutes after the vote, despite the demonstrators campaigning outside the building to get the flag. Republican governor Tate Reeves had already announced on Saturday that he would sign the relevant law as soon as he had it.
Buoyancy for flag opponents
The death of African-American George Floyd in a police operation at the end of May and the subsequent protests against racism had given new impetus to opponents of the previous flag. The future flag should contain the motto “We trust in God” and will be presented to the citizens on November 3 – in parallel with the presidential election.
Democratic Party Senator John Horhn said that simply changing the flag was not enough to address the continuing effects of the racist past. But it is a “big step” on the way to the recognition of the dignity of all people. President Donald Trump’s designated challenger Joe Biden described Mississippi’s decision as a moral victory.
wa / bru (dpa, afp, rtr)
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