It was the last u.s. State to have a symbol of confederate on the national flag. Sunday 28 June, the House of representatives and the Senate of Mississippi voted to change the flag of the State and thus pass from the blue cross in diagonal with small white stars on a red background, the symbol of the southern States of the United States, opposed the abolition of slavery during the american Civil war (1861-1865).
The removal of this emblem was approved Sunday by the House of representatives of Mississippi by a majority of 91 votes to 23. The vote has triggered shouts of approval in the public gallery. Then the Senate approved the provision by 37 votes to 14, and the senators celebrated the anniversary of the vote by cheers and hugs.
The law was adopted on Sunday provides that a commission of nine members to design a new flag that will include the phrase In God We Trust, with the u.s. dollar. The citizens of Mississippi will vote on the new flag in November. If they reject it, the State will not have a flag until a new design has not been approved.
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A previous vote in 2001
A democratic senator from Mississippi, John Horhn, emphasized that the change of flag does dispel not only the effects of past racist south of the United States. "But this is a great step on the way to the recognition of the humanity and the value given by God to any person ", he said. Governor Tate Reeves, who was not favourable to the debate on the flag, has made know Saturday that it would not use its right of veto and that he would sign the law if it was adopted.
The issue of racial discrimination is the subject of debate particularly keen in the United States since the death in may of George Floyd, an African-American, died after being asphyxiated during his arrest by a white policeman in Minneapolis. His death has triggered across the United States a wave of protests against the use of abusive force by police and against racial discrimination. These protests often led to riots resulting in deaths and looting. The movement has also resulted in the degradation or destruction of the statues of the leaders of the Confederation, and other historical figures accused of links with racism or slavery.
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In 2001, the Mississippi had voted overwhelmingly for the preservation of its present flag, seen by its defenders as a symbol of the historical legacy of the southern United States. But in the context of recent events, the debate has been strongly revived in the State. A black mp, Edward Blackmon, pointed out to his colleagues during the debate on Saturday, referring to the flag that flies on the building of the House of representatives at Jackson, the capital of the State.
"Change the flag"
" I imagine that many of us do not see even more this flag ", but " some of us notice it every time we come here, and this is not a nice feeling ", he said. The movement in favor of changing the flag had taken on a magnitude of sudden in several sectors of the society in the course of the last week
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Kylin Hill, a star player of the football team the Mississippi State University, had tweeted : "Change the flag or I do will represent that State. "" I'm serious, had pointed out Hill, an African-American. I've had enough. "The next day, the powerful association of baptist churches of Mississippi called for the change of the flag. And then other associations of various economic sectors, as well as officials of the sports world, joined the movement. "I understand that many see the present flag as a symbol of the heritage and the pride southerners ", has tweeted Faith Hill, a star of country music. "But we need to understand that this flag is a symbol of terror for our brothers and sisters in black. "
