Mississippi surrenders Confederate symbol from state flag

[Omaha Steve]

Last edited Mon Jun 29, 2020, 11:20 AM - Edit history (1)

Source: AP

By EMILY WAGSTER PETTUS

JACKSON, Miss. (AP) — Mississippi will retire the last state flag in the U.S. with the Confederate battle emblem, more than a century after white supremacist legislators adopted the design a generation after the South lost the Civil War.

A broad coalition of lawmakers — Black and white, Democrat and Republican — voted Sunday for change as the state faced increasing pressure amid nationwide protests against racial injustice.

Mississippi has a 38% Black population, and critics have said for generations that it’s wrong to have a flag that prominently features an emblem many condemn as racist.

Democratic Sen. David Jordan told his colleagues just before the vote that Mississippi needs a flag that unifies rather than divides.



"I love this flag," states David Flynt of Hattiesburg, while standing outside the state Capitol with other current Mississippi flag supporters in Jackson, Miss., Sunday, June 28, 2020. Lawmakers in both chambers are expected to debate state flag change legislation today. Mississippi Governor Tate Reeves has already said he would sign whatever flag bill the Legislature decides on. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis)


Read more: https://apnews.com/3ae00afe7d62e32fc1515a7215d6370f

[BumRushDaShow]

1. And take note of this - "38% Black population"

which is the highest percentage of any state in the U.S. (with Louisiana, Georgia, South Carolina, and Alabama bringing up the rear). It should not be a "red state". Sadly MS had the reputation of being the place where slaves were sent as "punishment".

[flotsam]

2. Shitty headline

They did something that is a public good in spite of a base of white supremacists objecting-that is miles from "surrendering" and AP should be ashamed.

[Aristus]

3. OTOH, it gets 'surrender' into the same sentence as 'Confederate', where it belongs.

n/t

[TygrBright]

4. I think this could be framed more positively, and Mississippi (finally) merits that...

"Mississippi Ejects Racist Traitor Loser Symbolism from Flag" would be my take.

helpfully,
Bright

[TheFarseer]

5. They should

Go back to the original flag with a lone star, a magnolia tree and a afterthought red stripe on the side.

Side note, Nebraska should replace their flag because it’s dumb and boring.

[ArizonaLib]

6. Strange that none of these states considered the US flag

as part of their 'heritage'.