Lobbying grows against Mississippi's rebel-themed flag

[groundloop]

Source: ABC News

JACKSON, Miss. -- University coaches and Christian ministers filled the Mississippi Capitol on Thursday, urging legislators to seize the moment and remove the Confederate battle emblem from the state flag while Americans are reckoning with difficult discussions about race and history.

“It doesn’t take courage. It takes conscience,” said the Rev. Reginald M. Buckley, senior pastor of Jackson’s Cade Chapel Missionary Baptist Church.

Mississippi is the last state with a flag that includes the emblem that many see as racist.

Former Mississippi Gov. Phil Bryant on Thursday advocated a state flag design that would eliminate the Confederate battle emblem — a red field topped by a blue X with 13 white stars.

Read more: https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/wireStory/mississippi-gov-remove-rebel-emblem-state-flag-71451362?cid=clicksource_4380645_2_heads_hero_live_headlines_hed

[nolabear]

1. The magnolia flag is really pretty and has been used before. It's worth going back to.

My part of MS has flown the French, Spanish, British, Confederate, US, and probably a couple of others over its history. We were very popular. With that popularity came a whole lot of pain.

[Jedi Guy]

2. Guessing you're from the Coast? N/T

[nolabear]

3. You got it. Lived there and in NO all my youth. Seattle now for 30+ years.

Honestly I love it there but I wouldn't live there on a bet. Not because of the people, many of whom are really wonderful, but because climate change is making it nearly unbearable. I don't know how my family stands it. On the OTHER other hand you can live like a queen there on what we spend to live like sort of regular folks here.

[LuvNewcastle]

4. I like the magnolia flag, too.

It looks nice and it has some history behind it. When the question on the flag was put up to a vote years ago, people voted about 65% in favor of keeping the current flag. I think it won because the proposed replacement was ugly and had no history. The magnolia flag might have won.

I hope they find a good replacement. People like to feel pride in their flags, a pride that's been lost as we continue to deal with the battle flag emblem. Maybe we'll be able to do it this time. I hope so.