The Mississippi State Flag Referendum was on the ballot in Mississippi on as a legislatively referred state statute on April 17, 2001.. [36] Both The American Humanist Association and Americans United for Separation of Church and State have published their own editorials decrying the use of the phrase on a new flag. Before they voted on Sunday, lawmakers described wrestling with competing emotions about the flag’s meaning and spoke passionately about a desire to unify Mississippi. Voters in Mississippi have chosen a new state flag, replacing a 126-year-old banner that incorporated a version of the Confederate battle flag. [33][34][35] Americans United for Separation of Church and State declared the state's actions as trading "a white nationalist symbol for a Christian nationalist one". The legislation sent to Mr. Reeves proposes abolishing the old flag and creating a commission that would design a new one. Football and basketball coaches paraded through the Capitol urging a change. It replaces the previous flag that displayed the Confederate battle insignia in the upper left hand corner, which was … An expert says having a statewide election on a flag design is unusual, and Mississippi is having its second one in less than 20 years. Many remain attached to the flag because they see it as an enduring recognition of the blood shed by their ancestors who fought for Mississippi and their pride in the state’s history. In the House, the bill was passed by 91 in favor and 23 against. [37][38], "Let Mississippi Vote" is a group that is attempting another referendum on a choice of four flag designs including the Magnolia flag that was adopted in the November 2020 referendum and the version that it replaced. [4] This was the first substantial action to change the state flag since the 2001 referendum. Voters approved Proposition A, which reaffirmed the use of the flag adopted in 1894 containing the Confederate battle cross. Mississippi will fly a new state flag with a magnolia and the phrase “In God We Trust,” with voters approving the design on the November 3 ballot. Still embraced by many white Mississippians as a proud display of Old South heritage, the flag increasingly has come to evoke segregation, racial violence and a war that had a central aim of preserving slavery. Voters approved the design in the general election on Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2020. [39][40][41], Please vote ‘Yes’ or ‘No’ on whether the following design shall be the official Mississippi State Flag, Commission to Redesign the Mississippi State Flag, Flag of Mississippi § Proposals to change the 1894 flag, 2020 Initiative 65 (Medical marijuana legalization), North American Vexillological Association, national protests following the death of George Floyd, Mississippi Department of Archives and History, Tuesday after the first Monday in November, Americans United for Separation of Church and State, Removal of Confederate monuments and memorials, "Mississippi Ballot Measure 3, State Flag Referendum (2020)", "Mississippi votes in favor of adopting new flag", "Historic Protests for Black Lives Sweep Mississippi Over Weekend", "Senate Democrats file resolution to change state flag after earlier action by House members", "Breaking: Lt. Gov. It’s now the view of many white Mississippians as well. “Whether we like it or not, the Confederate emblem on our state flag is viewed by many as a symbol of hate — there’s no getting around that fact,” Jason White, a Republican state representative, said on the floor of the House on Saturday. by Emily Wagster Pettus, Associated Press, Updated: June 28, 2020 . Scott Waller, the CEO of the Mississippi Economic Council, said he hopes people will vote from the top of the ballot to the bottom, which is where the flag referendum will be located. In 2001, a survey conducted by the North American Vexillological Association (NAVA) placed Mississippi's flag 22nd in design quality of the 72 Canadian provincial, U.S. state and U.S. territorial flags ranked. Mississippi voters chose to keep the Confederate-themed flag during a 2001 election, but all of the state's public universities and several cities and counties stopped flying it in recent years. Election 2020 Mississippi Flag FILE - This Sept. 2, 2020 file photo shows the magnolia centered banner chosen by the Mississippi State Flag Commission displayed outside the Old State Capitol Museum in downtown Jackson, Miss. Former Mississippi Gov. The commission also added that suggestions would need to be unique and adhere to principles of the North American Vexillological Association: that the design should use only two or three basic colors, be simple enough for a child to draw, and have meaningful symbolism. Lawmakers were confronted by a cascade of calls from inside and outside Mississippi as opposition coalesced across racial, religious, partisan and cultural divides. [12], Governor Tate Reeves signed the flag bill into law on June 30, 2020. [27][28], On September 2, the commission voted 8–1 to put the New Magnolia flag on the November ballot. The flag will replace the 1894 design that featured the Confederate emblem after it was removed from display at Government buildings through a June vote by the Mississippi … Mississippi began grappling with the flag once again this spring as a result of the death of George Floyd in the custody of the Minneapolis police, which rapidly evolved into a sprawling expression of fury and exasperation over the countless manifestations of the nation’s tangled racial history. It was then signed into law by Governor Reeves on January 11, 2021, making the "In God We Trust Flag" the official state flag. A nine-person commission has been appointed to develop a single new design by September, and Mississippi voters will approve or reject that design on … Entries were to be submitted by email or by post and be received by the commission by August 13, 2020 to be considered. “I’m glad to see this happen in my lifetime, in my son’s lifetime — in my grandmother’s lifetime,” added Ms. Lambright-Haines, an N.A.A.C.P. It would be a sharp contrast from the last time the flag was opened to a statewide ballot, in 2001, when voters overwhelmingly decided to keep the flag. Tate Reeves, a Republican, who has said he will sign it. ", "Commission to Redesign the Mississippi State Flag Top Two Finalists | Mississippi Department of Archives & History", "Commission selects New Magnolia Flag for voters to consider in November", "Mississippi Has Chosen Its New Flag Design. Lawmakers passed a bill in June that immediately removed the state flag, and Gov. The vote in the Senate was 37-14. What flag did Mississippi vote on? Voters were able to vote either yes to adopt the new flag or no to … “Everywhere we look people are seeking these changes and they cannot, will not, be appeased.”. The ballot measure presented voters with two potential state flags.Voters approved Proposition A, which reaffirmed the use of the flag … The bill stipulates the current flag must be removed within 15 days of the vote. A new Mississippi flag without Confederate images was flying in parts of the state on Wednesday, one day after a majority voters approved the design that has a magnolia encircled by stars and the phrase “In God We Trust.” Officials hoisted the flag outside Hattiesburg City Hall and on the campus of the University of Mississippi in Oxford. These proposals, depicting various elements including a representation of the Mississippi River, magnolias, and stars composed of diamonds significant to the Choctaw nation, had either red, white, and blue or green and white color schemes. Mississippi legislators in late June retired a 126-year-old state flag that was the last in the U.S. to include the Confederate battle emblem. The bill instructed the Mississippi Department of Archives and History to develop a plan for the removal of the 1894 flag from public buildings across the state and provide administrative support for the commission. Lici Beveridge, Mississippi Clarion Ledger 8/25/2020. volunteer who has been involved in efforts to take down the flag for two decades. “We’re one Mississippi moving forward.”. The effort was revived five years ago after a white supremacist killed nine African-American worshipers in a Charleston, S.C., church, prompting the removal of monuments to the Confederacy across the region as well as battle flags on statehouse grounds in Alabama and South Carolina. (Mississippi Legislature/YouTube) The legislation would mandate the “prompt, dignified and respectful” removal within 15 days of the bill going into effect. “We need to come up with ways to make this as hard on them as possible and make them regret it,” the post said. Mississippi would adopt a redesigned state flag; the new flag includes the phrase “In God We Trust” and does not feature the Confederate Battle Flag. Many lawmakers said removing the flag had an air of inevitability, as Mississippi increasingly looked like a conspicuous holdout as activists pushed to minimize and contextualize the remnants of the Confederacy that have long been on prominent display. Yet the calls for a change resonated more widely because of economic concerns raised by business leaders and moderate Republicans. “This has taught us a lesson,” Robert L. Johnson III, the House Democratic leader, told reporters, noting the legislation had bipartisan support that bridged racial and geographic lines. The 91-23 vote … [21], At an August 14 meeting, the commission announced that they had selected nine proposals. Many cities moved on their own to take down the flag and all eight of the state’s public universities lowered it on their campuses. Mississippi lawmakers vote to remove Confederate emblem from flag. [11] In the Senate, the bill was passed with 37 in favor and 14 against. JACKSON • Mississippi’s new magnolia-themed flag design is a step away from state law. Let Mississippi Vote may say that their main concern is giving a voice back to the people of Mississippi. Larry Eubanks of Star waves the current Mississippi state flag as he sits before the front of the Capitol, Saturday, in Jackson, Miss. JACKSON, Miss. “This is progress,” she said, “that no one thought we could make.”, Mississippi Lawmakers Vote to Retire State Flag Rooted in the Confederacy. The flag is officially referred to as the "In God We Trust Flag". [29] Rocky Vaughan is credited with designing the flag's overall layout, with design support provided by Sue Anna Joe, Kara Giles and Dominique Pugh (who created the magnolia illustration featured in the center). The groundswell effort to change the flag belied the extent of the division that still exists over the banner and how to interpret the legacy it symbolizes. Of the 507 likely voters who took the Civiqs survey, 61 percent said they would vote for the initiative while 31 percent said they would not vote for it. Mississippi voters chose to keep the Confederate-themed flag during a 2001 election, but all of the state's public universities and several cities and counties stopped flying it in recent years. Tate Reeves signed the bill into law. “I don’t know how long I want to sit around and watch Mississippi get kicked around because of a piece of cloth we have hanging over our capitol,” W. Briggs Hopson III, a Republican state senator, told his colleagues before the vote. [20] Each of the 9 commission members picked 25 flags, narrowing the list down to 147. — Mississippi lawmakers voted on Sunday to bring down, once and for all, the state flag dominated by the Confederate battle emblem that has flown for 126 years, adding a punctuation point to years of efforts to take down relics of the Confederacy across the South. (Mississippi Legislature/YouTube) By Arekia Bennett, a 27-year-old Mississippi native, was overwhelmed with emotions. The flag, the only state banner left in the country with the overt Confederate symbol, served for many as an inescapable sign of Mississippi’s racial scars and of the consequences of that history in defining perceptions of the state. Mississippi has been without a flag since late June, when legislators surrendered the last state banner in the U.S. that included the Confederate battle emblem State legislature. As the legislation repealed the sections of the Mississippi State Code which made provisions for a state flag, namely Section 3-3-16, Mississippi ceased to have an official state flag at this point. [16], The proposed design would be subject to a referendum to be held concurrently with the general election on November 3, 2020. Here's what that means. Mississippi lawmakers have voted to retire the state flag, the last to feature the Confederate battle emblem. [7], On June 28, 2020, the Mississippi Legislature passed a bill, House Bill 1796, that would relinquish the state flag, remove the state flag from public buildings within 15 days of the bill's effective date, and constitute a nine-member commission to design a new flag that would be put to voters in a referendum to be held in November 2020. The vote in the Senate was 37-14. After reviewing hundreds of possible options, the Mississippi Flag Commission selected the “New Magnolia” design on Sept. 2. JACKSON, Miss. Voters in Mississippi have chosen a new state flag, replacing a 126-year-old banner that incorporated a version of the Confederate battle flag. Scott Waller, the CEO of the Mississippi Economic Council, said he hopes people will vote from the top of the ballot to the bottom, which is where the flag referendum will be located. One person replied, “I have a flag and it’s not changing.”. (Several other Southern states have flags that are regarded as obliquely referencing Confederate iconography, including Alabama and Florida.). Supporters of the Confederate-themed Mississippi flag are starting an initiative that seeks to put four flag designs on the statewide ballot for another vote — the 1894 flag, the magnolia flag, one designed by a Jackson artist as an alternative to the 1894 flag … The group reached their goal of 5000 volunteers and have sent wording for their referendum to the Mississippi Attorney General's Office for approval. [13][14], Under the terms of House Bill 1796, a body known as the Commission to Redesign the Mississippi State Flag was constituted to suggest a design for a new state flag no later than September 14, 2020. Mississippi has been without a flag since late June, when legislators surrendered the last state banner in the U.S. that included the Confederate battle emblem Mr. Reeves, a Republican, said on Saturday that he would sign a bill, which represented the latest evolution in his thinking. The new Mississippi flag design. Resistance to the vote has surfaced already: The Mississippi Division of the Sons of Confederate Veterans, in a post on its Facebook page, suggested rallying voters to impede any efforts to replace the flag. In Mississippi, the state with the nation’s highest percentage of African-Americans, that has long been the understanding of black residents. [6] Hosemann was joined by Attorney General Lynn Fitch, State Auditor Shad White, Agriculture Commissioner Andy Gipson and Insurance Commissioner Mike Chaney. [2], After an earlier redesign proposal had been voted down in the 2001 Mississippi flag referendum and following the adoption of a new state flag by Georgia in 2003, the Mississippi flag remained the only U.S. state flag to include the Confederate battle flag's saltire. The measure now goes to Gov. “This was a long time coming,” Nsombi Lambright-Haines said after applause broke out in the Capitol and a crowd huddled inside tossed aside coronavirus precautions for a brief second and embraced one other. During the discussion in the Legislature, much of the dissent about changing the flag was focused less on an outright defense of it and more about voicing support of a referendum. [17], The Mississippi Department of Archives and History invited the public to submit designs for a new state flag on July 13. Should the referendum result in a "no" vote for the proposed design, the commission would reconvene and propose different designs. The state Senate easily passed House Bill 1 on Wednesday following an overwhelming state House vote a day earlier to cement the voter-approved flag into state code. Whether legislators will change Mississippi's flag to remove its Confederate battle emblem appears to hinge on the decisions of a few Republican senators. The commission announced that they would narrow these designs down to five finalists at its next meeting on August 18. JACKSON • Mississippi’s new magnolia-themed flag design is a step away from state law. “Mississippi had some character decisions to make, and today, we did,” said Ms. Bennett, the executive director of Mississippi Votes, a voting rights organization. On June 11, Senate Democrats filed a resolution to change the state flag. The nine member committee voted to recommend a design with the state flower. Mississippi will fly a new state flag with a magnolia and the phrase “In God We Trust,” with voters approving the design on the November 3 ballot. [30] Micah Whitson was also given credit for the appearance of the Native American star. For others, the drag on the state’s perception by outsiders and the continuing friction within were battles too costly to keep waging. The public may vote on their favorite designs at mdah.ms.gov/flagpoll-top5. Tate Reeves signs the measure. STATE FLAG. – Mississippi lawmakers voted to remove the Confederate battle emblem from the state flag this weekend after fierce debate that Gov. The bill now heads to Gov. The financial threat had been underscored by recent announcements by the National Collegiate Athletic Association and the Southeastern Conference that Mississippi would be precluded from hosting championship events until the flag was changed. The vote in the Senate was 37-14. She noted how, after years of pushing, the balance suddenly had shifted in the favor of those wanting to retire the flag to history. He initially said that any decision to change the flag ought to be made directly by voters. Update: In a ceremony on Tuesday evening, Gov. JACKSON, Miss. [15] The act stipulated that any design proposed by the commission must include the words "In God We Trust" and must not contain the Confederate battle flag. Tate Reeves for his signature or veto. Supporters of the Confederate-themed Mississippi flag are starting an initiative that seeks to put four flag designs on the statewide ballot for another vote — the 1894 flag, the magnolia flag, one designed by a Jackson artist as an alternative to the 1894 flag … [18] The deadline was moved to August 1st to allow time for the commission to complete the selection process. The legislation stated that further referenda could then be held on the Tuesday after the first Monday in November of a year in which the commission makes a new recommendation until a "yes" vote is achieved. Mississippi would remain without an official state flag until a new one is adopted through this process. ", "Mississippi flag: Magnolia could replace old rebel symbol", "Mississippi governor signs law for flag without rebel emblem", "Mississippi adding 'In God We Trust' to new state flag may prompt Satanic Temple lawsuit", "Satanic Temple plans to sue Mississippi if state puts 'In God We Trust' on flag", "Some question replacing Mississippi's Confederate symbol with 'In God We Trust, "Mississippi Trades Confederate Emblem For 'In God We Trust' On State Flag", "Vexing Vexillology Mississippi axes racist flag, adds divisive motto", "Initiatives – Mississippi Initiative Process", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=2020_Mississippi_flag_referendum&oldid=1001175524, November 2020 events in the United States, All Wikipedia articles written in American English, Pages using multiple image with auto scaled images, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, This page was last edited on 18 January 2021, at 15:31. The measure now goes to Gov. Mississippi voters will choose whether or not to embrace the new flag, which features a magnolia blossom surrounded by stars and the phrase "In God We Trust," on Election Day on Nov. 3. Let Mississippi Vote is a grassroots group of statewide volunteers who are fighting to give voters the right to decide which flag represents Mississippi. The argument for changing the flag was a moral one for some. Mississippi in 2001 voted overwhelmingly to retain its current flag, hailed by its defenders as a proud symbol of southern heritage and history. Big development", "As leaders continue to count votes to change state flag, Hosemann throws support behind legislative action", "Mississippi House and Senate vote to remove Confederate icon from state flag", "Mississippi House passes bill to take Confederate symbol off state flag", "HB1796 (As Sent to Governor) – 2020 Regular Session", "Changing the state flag: How Mississippi legislators made history in 4 hours on a rare Sunday session", "Breaking: Governor to retire Mississippi's Confederate-themed flag", "Governor to retire Mississippi's Confederate-themed flag", "State Commission Seeks Flag Design Submissions | Mississippi Department of Archives & History", State Flag Commission holds first meeting in Jackson, "State commission asks for state flag designs", "Commission Approves Process of Selecting New Flag, Chooses Meeting Dates | Mississippi Department of Archives & History", "View Submissions for the New Mississippi State Flag | Mississippi Department of Archives & History", "Commission narrows down 147 designs for Mississippi's new state flag", "Magnolias, Mississippi River among elements discussed by flag commission", "Mississippi flag could have Choctaw-inspired diamond shape", "One of these five designs could become the new Mississippi state flag", "Mississippi flag commission selects final two flag designs", "Two finalists announced for Mississippi state flag", "Could the Great River Flag be the odds on favorite for new Mississippi flag? Mississippi state Rep. Edward Blackmon Jr. (D-Madison) spoke before a vote to remove the Confederate emblem from the state flag on June 27. The Mississippi Legislature took historic votes Saturday that will allow lawmakers to vote on changing the state flag Sunday. A Mississippi state flag at the Capitol in Jackson on Thursday. [24][25][26], The final two flags were the "Great River Flag" designed by Micah Whitson and the "The New Magnolia" designed by Rocky Vaughan, Sue Anna Joe, Kara Giles and Dominique Pugh. The 2020 Mississippi flag referendum was a legislatively referred state statute appearing on the November 3, 2020 general election ballot in Mississippi. The vote occurred as protests over racial injustice were taking place across the nation and Confederate monuments were being toppled or taken down by authorities. A single design is on the ballot for a yes-or-no vote. The resolution to suspend the rules passed out of the House Rules … The debate has raged in recent weeks over the continued presence of the Confederate symbol — 13 white stars atop a blue X with a red background — on … The commission consisted of nine members, three of which were appointed by the Speaker of the Mississippi House of Representatives, three members appointed by the Lieutenant Governor of Mississippi, and three by the Governor. Chris McDaniel, a Republican state senator who has been one of the most ardent critics of the legislation, argued that changing the flag represented a dangerous precedent for erasing history. The ballot measure presented voters with two potential state flags. The new banner would be forbidden from having the Confederate battle emblem and must include the phrase “In God we trust.” The commission would be charged with arriving at a design by September for it to be put up for a vote on the November ballot. The legislation cleared a significant procedural hurdle on Saturday as a supermajority in both the House of Representatives and Senate voted to move ahead. The bill now heads to Gov. At least one had teared up after the vote as he acknowledged the symbolic power of lowering the flag. (WJTV)- The Mississippi House of Representatives voted Sunday to remove the current state flag which carries the Confederate battle emblem. – Mississippi lawmakers voted to remove the Confederate battle emblem from the state flag this weekend after fierce debate that Gov. [22][23] Five semifinalists were published on August 18, and this was reduced to two finalists on August 25. The flag, which has flown since 1894, is poised to come down, becoming yet another emblem of the Confederacy to be removed across the South. Let Mississippi Vote is a grassroots group of statewide volunteers who are fighting to give voters the right to decide which flag represents Mississippi. “We are better today than we were yesterday, and because we are better, we are stronger.”. A new Mississippi flag without Confederate images was flying in parts of the state on Wednesday, one day after a majority of voters approved the … The state Senate easily passed House Bill 1 on Wednesday following an overwhelming state House vote … Tate Reeves for his signature or veto. Their only concern is to bring back the 1894 flag and their initiative is designed in a way that they are ensuring it will win. The Mississippi House of Representatives voted to pass HCR 79 by a vote of 85-34.. [5] On June 24, Lieutenant Governor Delbert Hosemann announced his support for a new flag. The pending flag of Mississippi is a flag with a white magnolia blossom and the words "In God We Trust" on a red field with a gold-bordered blue pale. The state Senate easily passed House Bill 1 on Wednesday following an overwhelming state House vote a day earlier to cement the voter-approved flag into state code. William Winter, who is now 97, served on then-President Bill Clinton's national advisory board on race in the 1990s and was chairman of the Mississippi flag commission in 2000. Mississippi legislators have taken historic votes to remove a Confederate battle emblem from their state flag By EMILY WAGSTER PETTUS Associated Press June 29, 2020, 1:23 AM [31], The referendum passed by a 73% to 27% margin on November 3, 2020. Mississippi flag comes down after vote to remove Confederate emblem – video Mississippi lawmakers have faced increasing pressure to change the flag, which features the … Various polls show that, even as the number of people supporting a change has increased, nearly half of the state was resistant to the idea. Former state Supreme Court Justice Reuben V. Anderson, who serves as president of the Board of Trustees of the Mississippi Department of Archives and History, was unanimously elected as the commission's chairman at its first meeting on July 22. They would need valid signatures of 106,190 Mississippi residents for the initiative to be placed on a ballot as early as 2021. “The argument over the 1894 flag has become as divisive as the flag itself,” Mr. Reeves said in a statement, “and it’s time to end it.”. Tate Reeves of Mississippi signed into law the measure replacing the state flag. Tate Reeves, a … The magnolia centered banner chosen Wednesday, Sept. 2, 2020 by the Mississippi State Flag Commission flies outside the Old State Capitol Museum in downtown Jackson, Miss. The vote in the Mississippi House was 91 in favor of removal and 23 opposed. [3], On June 9, 2020 lawmakers gathered votes and started drafting legislation to change the state flag. “That’s what we’ve all prayed for,” said Jerry R. 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