Mississippi State to Remove Confederate Symbol from Flag

It was the last American state to keep this reminder of the period of slavery. The Mississippi House of Representatives and the Senate, a state in the southern United States, voted on Sunday June 28 to withdraw thestandard of Confederation of their flag. This standard – red background, blue cross diagonally with small white stars – represented the Southern States, opposed to the abolition of slavery, during the American Civil War (1861 to 1865). Mississippi was the only state to have retained this southern emblem since neighboring Georgia abandoned it in 2003.

The removal of this emblem was approved by the Mississippi House of Representatives by a majority of 91 votes to 23. The vote sparked clamors of approval in the public gallery. Then the Senate in turn approved the provision by 37 votes to 14 and senators celebrated the vote with cheers and hugs.

Law passed Sunday calls for nine-member commission to design new flag to include phrase “In God We Trust” (“We believe in God”), the American currency. Mississippi citizens will have to vote on the new flag in November. If they reject it, the state will not have a flag until a new design has been approved.

The move comes amid a wave of anti-racism protests across the country that has sparked controversy over the persistence of symbols of slavery, since the death in May of George Floyd, an African-American asphyxiated by a white police officer in Minneapolis.

Mississippi Democrat Senator John Horhn said the change alone would not dissipate the effects of the racist past in the southern United States. “But it is a big step on the way to the recognition of humanity and of the value given by God to everyone”, did he declare.

Mississippi Republican Governor Tate Reeves, who did not support the state flag debate, said on Saturday that he would not use his veto and would pass the law if it did. -it was adopted.

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