SPLC Action Fund Responds to Mississippi Legislature Decision to Change the State Flag

JACKSON, Miss. — The SPLC Action Fund’s Brandon Jones released the following statement in response to the passage of House Concurrent Resolution 79 by the Mississippi legislature which clears the way for removal of the Confederate battle emblem from the state flag and creates a commission to oversee the redesign of the flag.
 
“Today, the Mississippi legislature has finally taken a long overdue action. As the only state in the nation that has chosen to continue honoring the Confederacy on its state flag, this vote was a necessary and important step to help move Mississippi forward and reject a brutal and racist past.

“We are encouraged by this vote and hope the legislature will move quickly to complete this process and pass the final bill. While this is important work, we are reminded that changing Mississippi’s flag is just one step on a long journey. The Confederate emblem on Mississippi’s flag has long stood as a visual reminder of the ongoing systemic racial barriers that exist in education, healthcare and workforce equity in our state.

“We appreciate the young voices who have organized across our state and demanded that our leaders listen and take action. It is their good work that has helped bring us this far and we call on our legislature and governor to finish this work.”