Mississippi lawmakers have voted to retire their state flag, which has the confederate emblem on it. Mississippi is the only state to still use the confederate symbol in its flag. In 1861, Mississippi became one of seven confederate states, ultimately there would be 11. The confederate flag represents the seven confederate states that originally seceded from the Union after feeling threatened by the election of Abraham Lincoln. Headquartered in Richmonds Virginia, the confederacy had a President and Vice President that served a six year term and were not able to get reelected. The confederate flag would become known as the stars and bars. 

Mississippi’s flag was adopted in February 1984, replacing the original flag known as the Magnolia which was pre the formation of Confederate states. The new flag had a replicator’s of the confederate battle flag in the corner. The confederate flag is symbolic of the civil war and the separation between the south and the north. The reason the South split from the north was due to their belief that states had the right to slavery. For this reason, the confederate flag is a symbol of racist ideology. The confederacy was born as a way to defend their right to hold slaves. 

In the past month, racial justice conversation across the US has reached new levels. Many confederate statues have been removed either forcibly by citizens or from cities and governments directly. Mississippi, the only state that still included the confederate symbol in its flag, is the latest to make a change. New state legislature was passed on Sunday to remove the Confederate emblem from their flag. Mississippi Governor Tate Reeves is the next to officially sign the bill into law. The Governor tweeted that he will sign the bill, which establishes a commission to develop a new flag design for the southern state. 

Mayor Magee of Laurel, Mississippi removed the flag by executive order just days before the state legislation was announced. The mayor became emotional during the signing of the executive order and stated:

“as they told Dr. King to wait, time for waiting is over.” 

The state flag was lowered and then removed from Mississippi’s state capitol just moments after the decision was made.