Mississippians have voted overwhelmingly for a new state flag design (pictured above), with The Associated Press reporting nearly 70% of voters casting ballots in support of the referendum.
The flag on the ballot was approved by the Mississippi Flag Commission after reviewing nearly 3,000 submissions in July and August, according to the Mississippi Department of Archives and History.
The new red, navy blue and gold flag has a magnolia in the center that’s encircled with “In God We Trust.” The commission was part of the resolution passed in June by the Mississippi legislature.
Some lawmakers began informally discussing taking down the previous Confederate-themed state flag in the aftermath of the killing of George Floyd by police officers in Minneapolis in May. Protests erupted across the U.S., including in Mississippi. The state’s Legislative Black Caucus called on all lawmakers to support removing the flag, saying it represents the state’s past of slavery and Jim Crow. Legislators argued that the state is changing and that Mississippi should retire the flag and select one that everyone can embrace. Some also expressed concern about the state’s economic outlook, saying the state has lost bids to bring companies to Mississippi because of the emotions evoked by the state flag.
Read More Here