Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves signed a bill into law Tuesday that will change the state flag by removing the Confederate battle emblem, first included 126 years ago.
Legislators fast-tracked the measure over the weekend, with both chambers voting to suspend the rules Saturday to allow for debate and a vote. It passed Sunday on a House vote of 91-23, which was quickly followed by a 37-14 Senate vote.
Reeves said just before signing the bill that he hoped Mississippians would put their divisions behind them to unite for a greater good.
“This is not a political moment to me but a solemn occasion to lead Mississippi’s family to come together, to be reconciled and move on,” Reeves said.
The governor also said he understood the fear of many that the change could begin a chain of events that could lead to the erasure of the state’s complicated history. While Reeves said he stands against monuments’ being taken down, he said he did support a new flag.
“There is a difference between a monument and flags,” Reeves said. “A monument acknowledges and honors our past. A flag is a symbol of our present, of our people and of our future. For those reasons, we need a new symbol.”
The bill calls for a commission to lead a flag redesign that eliminates the Confederate symbol but keeps the slogan “In God We Trust.” A redesign approved by the commission would be placed on the November ballot.
If voters reject the new design, the commission would try again for a new flag that would be presented to the Legislature during the 2021 session.