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Flag of Mississippi

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Mississippi
Flag of Mississippi
UseCivil and state flag
Proportion2:3
AdoptedFebruary 7, 1894; 130 years ago (1894-02-07)
DesignThree equal horizontal tribands of blue, white, and red with the Confederate battle flag in the canton.
Designed byEdward N. Scudder

The flag of Mississippi consists of three equal horizontal tribands of blue, white, and red, with a red square in the canton (referred to specifically as the "union") bearing the Confederate battle flag.

The canton of the flag features the Civil War-era battle flag of the Army of Northern Virginia, which over time has come to represent the former Confederate States of America and Southern nostalgia.

The 13 stars on the flag officially represent "the number of the original states of the Union", though they are sometimes thought to be for the states that seceded from the Union, plus Missouri and Kentucky which also had both Confederate and Union governing bodies.[1]

The current design was adopted in 1894,[1] and remains the only state flag to still incorporate the Confederate battle flag. Community and lawmakers have proposed new flag designs in opposition to the Confederate graphics, especially following the Charleston church shooting and the killing of George Floyd.[2]

History

The design of the State flag has been modified officially two times since 1861. The current version is the longest-used and has been in use for over 130 years.[3]

First flag

"The Bonnie Blue Flag" by Harry McCarthy
Mississippi
Flag of Mississippi
Magnolia Flag
UseCivil and state flag
AdoptedMarch 30, 1861 (1861-03-30)
RelinquishedAugust 22, 1865 (1865-08-22)
DesignA white field with a large red border and magnolia tree in the center; in the canton, one white five-pointed star on a blue field.
Designed byMississippi State Convention Committee to Prepare Flag and Coat of Arms for the State
UseCivil and state flag
DesignCommon unofficial flag variant (likely postbellum and used by U.C.V. camps in Mississippi), similar to the "Magnolia Flag."[4]

Before 1861, the state lacked an official state flag. When the State of Mississippi declared its secession from the United States ("Union") on January 9, 1861, near the start of the American Civil War, spectators in the balcony handed a Bonnie Blue Flag down to the Mississippi state convention delegates on the convention floor,[5] and one was raised over the state capitol building in Jackson as a sign of independence.[6] Later that night, residents of Jackson paraded through the streets under the banner. Harry McCarthy, an Irish singer and playwright who observed the street parade, was inspired to write the song "The Bonnie Blue Flag," which, after "Dixie," was the most popular song in the Confederate States at the time.[3][7]

The first flag of Mississippi was known as the "Magnolia Flag." It was the official state flag from March 30, 1861, until August 22, 1865.[4] The flag remained in use in an unofficial capacity until 1894,[a] when the current version was first adopted.[8] On January 26, 1861, the delegates to the state convention approved the report of a special committee that had been appointed to design a coat of arms and "a suitable flag".[5] The flag recommended by the committee was "A Flag of white ground, a magnolia tree in the centre, a blue field in the upper left hand corner with a white star in the centre, the Flag to be finished with a red border and a red fringe at the extremity of the Flag."[9] Due to time constraints and the pressure to raise "means for the defense of the state," the delegates neglected to adopt the flag officially in January but did so when they reassembled in March 1861.[10] The Magnolia Flag was not widely used or displayed during the American Civil War, as the various Confederate flags were displayed more frequently.[11] Following the conclusion of the war, a Mississippi state constitutional convention that met in Jackson nullified many of the ordinances and resolutions passed by the conventions of 1861. Among those nullified was the 1861 ordinance "to provide a Coat of Arms and Flag for the State of Mississippi," leaving Mississippi without an official state flag.[12]

Flag Act of 1894

On February 7, 1894, the Legislature replaced the American Civil War era Magnolia Flag[3] with a new design that incorporated the Confederate battle flag in its canton.

The Mississippi Code of 1972, in Title 3, Chapter 3, describes the flag as follows:

§ 3-3-16. Design of state flag. The official flag of the State of Mississippi shall have the following design: with width two-thirds (2/3) of its length; with the union (canton) to be square, in width two-thirds (2/3) of the width of the flag; the ground of the union to be red and a broad blue saltire thereon, bordered with white and emblazoned with thirteen (13) mullets or five-pointed stars, corresponding with the number of the original States of the Union; the field to be divided into three (3) bars of equal width, the upper one blue, the center one white, and the lower one, extending the whole length of the flag, red (the national colors); this being the flag adopted by the Mississippi Legislature in the 1894 Special Session.[13][14]

2001 referendum

In 1906, Mississippi adopted a revised legal code that repealed all general laws that were not reenacted by the legislature or brought forward in the new code.[15] The legislature inadvertently omitted mention of the 1894 flag. Because of this oversight, while inadvertent, the state had no official state flag from 1906 to 2001; however, this defect was not discovered in Mississippi statute until the 21st century.[16][13] In 2000 the Supreme Court of Mississippi confirmed that the state legislature in 1906 had repealed the adoption of the state flag in 1894.[17] What was considered to be the official state flag was only so through custom or tradition during the previous 94 years.[18]

Small vexillological symbol or pictogram in black and white showing the different uses of the flag 2001 flag proposal

In January 2001 then-Governor Ronnie Musgrove appointed an independent commission which developed a new proposed design.[14][18] On April 17, 2001, a legally binding[19][20] state referendum to change the flag was put before Mississippi voters by the legislature on recommendation of this commission.[16]

The referendum, which asked voters if the new design prepared by the independent commission should be adopted, was defeated in a vote of 64% (488,630 votes) to 36% (267,812), and the 1894 state flag was retained.[21] The proposed flag would have replaced the Confederate battle flag with a blue canton with 20 stars. The outer ring of 13 stars would represent the original Thirteen Colonies, the ring of six stars would represent the six nations that have had sovereignty over Mississippi Territory (various Native American nations as a collective nation, French Empire, Spanish Empire, Great Britain, the United States, and the Confederacy), and the inner and slightly larger star would represent Mississippi itself. The 20 stars would also represent Mississippi's status as the 20th member of the United States.[citation needed]

Since Georgia adopted a new state flag in 2003, the Mississippi flag is the only U.S. state flag to include the Confederate battle flag's saltire. 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.[22]

Future of the flag

Further information: Modern display of the Confederate battle flag and Flaggers (movement)
Small vexillological symbol or pictogram in black and white showing the different uses of the flag The Hospitality Flag proposed by Laurin Stennis for a new flag of the state of Mississippi (2014)

In the wake of the 2015 Charleston, South Carolina church shooting, in which nine black parishioners of an Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church were killed by white supremacist Dylann Roof, there were renewed calls for Southern states to cease using the Confederate battle flag in official capacities.[23] This extended to increased criticism of Mississippi's state flag. All eight public universities in Mississippi, along with "several cities and counties", including Biloxi, are now refusing to fly the state flag until the emblem is removed. At displays of all 50 state flags in New Jersey, Oregon, and Philadelphia, the flag has been removed, leaving 49.[23][24][25][26][27]

The Mississippi flag outside of a Mississippi Welcome Center in 2016.

Over 20 flag-related bills, some calling for another statewide referendum, were introduced in the Legislature in 2015 and 2016, but none made it out of committee.[23] A 2016 federal lawsuit alleging that the flag is tantamount to "state-sanctioned hate speech" was dismissed by both a district court and the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals.[28][29] The Supreme Court declined to hear the case.[30]

Political movement on flag

On June 9, 2020, Mississippi Today reported that lawmakers had begun gathering votes and drafting legislation to change the state flag. The action comes after weeks of national protests following the killing of George Floyd, including a protest outside the Mississippi Governor's Mansion on June 6.[31] This is the first substantial action to change the state flag since the 2001 referendum. The proposed legislation would adopt Laurin Stennis's design as the Flag of Mississippi. With the support of Republican Speaker of the House, Philip Gunn, lawmakers have begun to court Republican congress members to vote for the resolution. Speaker Gunn has ensured he will get the resolution passed through a House committee if verbal support from 30 Republicans is secured to go along with the 45 Democratic members of the House.[32] An update on June 10 showed that lawmakers believe that they had secured at least 20 Republicans that are in favor of voting for the resolution to change the flag, while 20 more are on the fence. The lawmakers' goal is to secure at least 40 Republicans to go along with the 45 Democrats needed to suspend rules to allow a bill to be considered in this session.[33] On June 11, Senate Democrats filed a resolution to change the state flag.[34] On June 24, Lieutenant Governor Delbert Hosemann announced his support for a new flag.[35] Hosemann has been joined by Attorney General Lynn Fitch, State Auditor Shad White, Agriculture Commissioner Andy Gipson and Insurance Commissioner Mike Chaney.[36]

Hospitality flag

Mississippi specialty license plate advertising the Stennis flag proposal, made available for purchase in 2019.

An alternative was devised in 2014 by local artist Laurin Stennis, granddaughter of former U.S. senator John C. Stennis.[37] Her proposal was originally dubbed the "Declare Mississippi" flag and has been popularly called the "Stennis Flag". Laurin Stennis' stated mission was to create "an image that would better capture our history and hopes without denying or romanticizing our past" and focus on HISTORY + HOPE + HOSPITALITY.[38] In June 2020, Stennis distanced herself from the effort to change the flag, citing potential harm associated with her last name. Her design has since been renamed the "Hospitality flag".[39][40]

The flag consists of a single blue star on a white field, an inversion of the white star on a blue field of the Bonnie Blue Flag[41]. It is encircled by 19 smaller stars representing each state in the Union when Mississippi joined, as well as symbolizing "unity and continuity" drawing inspiration from the artifacts of the indigenous peoples of the region. The central white field represents "faith and possibility," and is flanked on each side by a vertical red bars, representing "the blood spilled by Mississippians, whether civilian or military, who have honorably given their lives in pursuit of liberty and justice for all."[38] In an interview, Stennis said the red bars also stand for "Mississippians’ 'passionate differences' on the flag issue."[42]

Since its inception, numerous bills have been brought before the Legislature to instate the Stennis Flag, but so far none have passed.[43][44] On April 17, 2019, Mississippi governor Phil Bryant signed a new specialty license plates bill. One of the new specialty plates will include the Stennis Flag along with the phrase, "History + Hope + Hospitality". This was the first time that the Stennis flag's design received some form of state sanction by being used in an official capacity.[45][46][47]

2-flag plan

A proposal being floated by several members of the Legislature is to create a second Mississippi flag. This flag, with a yet-to-be-determined design that didn't include any Confederate images, would be used alongside the current flag. This plan was soundly rejected by Gov. Tate Reeves who compared it to the separate but equal doctrine, stating that if implemented it wouldn't "satisfy either side of this debate."[40]

Response from athletic conferences

On June 18, 2020, the commissioner of the Southeastern Conference, Greg Sankey, announced the SEC would consider banning championship events in Mississippi until the flag is changed. The SEC is the athletic conference for the two largest universities in Mississippi, Ole Miss and Mississippi State.[48] The announcement by the conference was followed by support of changing the flag from Chancellor Glenn Boyce of The University of Mississippi (Ole Miss) and President Mark E. Keenum of Mississippi State University.[49][50] The athletic directors of the universities, Keith Carter (Ole Miss) and John Cohen (Mississippi State), also supported changing the flag, along with various coaches from the universities.[51][52][53][54] On June 19, the NCAA banned all postseason play from occurring in Mississippi until the flag is changed. The NCAA had previously banned predetermined events such as football bowl games and men's basketball tournament games in 2001 from occurring in the state. The new rule also bans merit based championship sites, such as baseball regionals, softball regionals, women's basketball tournament games and tennis tournament games. Ole Miss hosted both baseball and softball regionals in 2019. Mississippi State hosted a baseball regional, men’s tennis tournament games and women's basketball tournament games in 2019.[55] Also on June 19, the leaders of the eight public universities in Mississippi (Alcorn State University, Delta State University, Jackson State University, Mississippi State University, Mississippi University for Women, Mississippi Valley State University, University of Mississippi and University of Southern Mississippi) issued a joint statement calling for a new state flag.[56] On June 22, Conference USA banned all postseason play in Mississippi until the removal of the Confederate emblem from the state flag.[57] Conference USA is home to the state's third largest university, Southern Miss, and has hosted its annual baseball tournament in Mississippi for eight of the past nine years. On June 23, presidents of the fifteen community colleges in Mississippi issued a joint statement showing their support for a new flag.[58]

Religious response

On June 23, 2020, the Mississippi Baptist Convention condemned the current state flag. In a statement, Baptist leaders said, "The racial overtones of the flag's appearance make this discussion a moral issue. Since the principal teachings of Scripture are opposed to racism, a stand against such is a matter of biblical morality."[59]

Corporate response

On June 23, 2020, retailer Walmart announced that it would cease displaying the state flag at its 85 Mississippi store locations.[60] The retailer normally displays state flags alongside the U.S. national flag at all of its locations across the country.[61]

Pledge of allegiance

The pledge to the state flag is as follows:

I salute the flag of Mississippi and the sovereign state for which it stands with pride in her history and achievements and with confidence in her future under the guidance of Almighty God.

— MS Code § 37-13-7 (2018)

The Mississippi Code provides: "The pledge of allegiance to the Mississippi flag shall be taught in the public schools of this state, along with the pledge of allegiance to the United States flag."[62]

See also

Notes

  1. ^ The flag was first adopted in February 1894. However, it was repealed in 1906, remaining in de facto usage until its official re-adoption in April 2001.

References

  1. ^ a b "State Flags". Archived from the original on April 5, 2020. Retrieved July 5, 2019.
  2. ^ Ganucheau, Adam (June 9, 2020). "Bipartisan group of lawmakers, with Speaker Gunn's blessing, pushes to change Mississippi state flag". Mississippi Today. Retrieved June 9, 2020.
  3. ^ a b c Sansing, David G. (August 2000). "Flags Over Mississippi". Mississippi Department of Archives and History. Mississippi Historical Society. Retrieved May 20, 2019.
  4. ^ a b Clay Moss (June 21, 2015). "Mississippi's Magnolia Flags (U.S.)". Flags of the World (FOTW). Mississippi Department of Archives and History. Retrieved January 21, 2019. It was likely a post-war flag, designed for use by one or more of Mississippi's United Confederate Veterans camps. Then over time, it was mistakenly identified as "the" Magnolia flag.
  5. ^ a b http://mshistorynow.mdah.state.ms.us/articles/105/flags-over-mississippi Flags Over Mississippi
  6. ^ Jau Winik, "A New Flag for a New Mississippi," New York Times, February 11, 2001, Week in Review section, p. 17.
  7. ^ The Lone Star/Bonnie Blue Flag, Washington Artillery
  8. ^ "Mississippi State Flag - About the Mississippi Flag, its adoption and history from NETSTATE.COM". www.netstate.com.
  9. ^ Journal of the State Convention, and Ordinances and Resolutions Adopted in January, 1861. with an Appendix. Published by Order of the Convention. Jackson, Miss.: E. Barksdale, State Printer. 1861. pp. 89–90. LCCN 16025853. OCLC 1047488108. OL 24350027M – via Internet Archive.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: others (link)
  10. ^ Journal of the State Convention and Ordinances and Resolutions Adopted in March, 1861. Published by Order of the Convention. Jackson: E. Barksdale, State Printer. 1861. pp. 43, 47, 86. OCLC 758987648 – via Internet Archive.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: others (link)
  11. ^ "Mississippi State Flag - About the Mississippi Flag, its adoption and history from NETSTATE.COM". www.netstate.com.
  12. ^ Journal of the Proceedings and Debates in the Constitutional Convention of the State of Mississippi, August 1865. Jackson, Miss.: E. M. Yerger, State Printer. 1865. pp. 34-36, 174, 221–225, 247. LCCN 10012152. OCLC 48174008. OL 7019017M – via Internet Archive.
  13. ^ a b State of Mississippi (February 7, 2001). "Miss. Code Ann. § 3-3-16: Design of state flag". Mississippi Code of 1972. LexisNexis. HISTORY: SOURCES: Laws, 2001, ch. 301, § 2, eff from and after February 7, 2001 (the date the United States Attorney General interposed no objection under Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, to the addition of this section.)
  14. ^ a b "The Mississippi State Flag". NetState. February 6, 2014. Retrieved January 25, 2015.
  15. ^ Mississippi; Albert Hall Whitfield; Thomas Clendenin Catchings; W. H. Hardy (1906). The Mississippi code of 1906 of the public statute laws of the state of Mississippi, prepared and annotated by A. H. Whitfield, T. C. Catchings and W. H. Hardy: Under the provisions of an act of the Legislature approved March 19, 1904, and reported to and revised. Brandon printing company. p. 141.
  16. ^ a b "Mississippi Votes to Keep Controversial Flag". ABC News. Retrieved April 17, 2020.
  17. ^ Mississippi Division of the United Sons of Confederate Veterans v. Mississippi State Conference of NAACP Branches, 774 So.2d 388 (Miss. 2000)
  18. ^ a b Dedman IV, James M. (Fall 2001). "At Daggers Drawn: The Confederate Flag and the School Classroom - A Case Study of a Broken First Amendment Formula". Baylor Law Review. 53: 877, 883.
  19. ^ "Mississippi › Initiative & Referendum Institute". www.iandrinstitute.org. Retrieved April 17, 2020.
  20. ^ "Mississippi Flag Referendum (April 2001)". Ballotpedia. Retrieved April 17, 2020.
  21. ^ "Election Results" (PDF). State of Mississippi. April 27, 2001. Archived from the original (PDF) on November 26, 2007. Retrieved October 21, 2007.
  22. ^ "2001 State/Provincial Flag Survey - NAVA.org" (PDF). nava.org.
  23. ^ a b c "Battle over Confederate symbols continues with Mississippi state flag." CNN. June 19, 2016. Retrieved 2017-05-06.
  24. ^ "Biloxi won't fly state flag." Associated Press (via Clarion-Ledger). April 27, 2017. Retrieved 2017-05-06.
  25. ^ "State flag quietly removed from campus". The Reflector. Retrieved November 27, 2017.
  26. ^ Victor, Daniel (October 26, 2015). "University of Mississippi Lowers State Flag With Confederate Symbol". New York Times.
  27. ^ Barron, James (April 29, 2019). "New Jersey Governor Refuses to Fly 'Reprehensible' Mississippi Flag". New York Times.
  28. ^ "Mississippi Confederate Flag Fight Moves to New Battlefield." US News & World Report. March 16, 2017. Retrieved 2017-05-06.
  29. ^ "Court Rejects Lawsuit Against Mississippi State Flag's Confederate Symbolism." April 3, 2017. Retrieved 2017-05-06.
  30. ^ "Search - Supreme Court of the United States". www.supremecourt.gov. Retrieved January 16, 2018.
  31. ^ Judin, Nick (June 8, 2020). "Historic Protests For Black Lives Sweep Mississippi Over Weekend". Jackson Free Press. Retrieved June 9, 2020.
  32. ^ Ganucheau, Adam (June 9, 2020). "Bipartisan group of lawmakers, with Speaker Gunn's blessing, pushes to change Mississippi state flag". Mississippi Today. Retrieved June 9, 2020.
  33. ^ Harrison, Bobby; Pender, Geoff (June 10, 2020). "About 40 Republican House votes are needed to change the state flag. Lawmakers say they're halfway there". Mississippi Today. Retrieved June 10, 2020.
  34. ^ Harrison, Bobby; Pender, Geoff (June 11, 2020). "Senate Democrats file resolution to change state flag after earlier action by House members". Mississippi Today. Retrieved June 11, 2020.
  35. ^ @GanucheauAdam (June 24, 2020). "Breaking: Lt. Gov. Delbert Hosemann seems to open the door to legislative action on the Mississippi state flag without a popular vote. Big development. https://mississippitoday.org/2020/06/23/lacking-legislative-votes-to-change-state-flag-gunn-and-hosemann-turn-to-religious-leaders-for-help/ #msleg" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  36. ^ Skinner, Kayleigh; Pender, Geoff; Harrison, Bobby (June 24, 2020). "As leaders continue to count votes to change state flag, Hosemann throws support behind legislative action". Mississippi Today. Retrieved June 24, 2020.
  37. ^ "Watkins: Stennis granddaughter offers new flag option". The Clarion Ledger. Retrieved January 21, 2019.
  38. ^ a b "Stennis Flag". Hospitality Flag. Retrieved June 22, 2020.
  39. ^ Lee, China (June 21, 2020). "'Stennis Flag' becomes 'Hospitality Flag' as creator steps down". WLBT.
  40. ^ a b Wagster Pettus, Emily (June 23, 2020). "Mississippi gov rejects 'separate but equal' 2-flag plan". Associated Press. Retrieved June 23, 2020. Mississippi Republican Gov. Tate Reeves said Monday that he's against having two state flags — the current banner with the Confederate battle emblem that critics see as racist, and a yet-to-be-determined design that would erase Confederate images.
  41. ^ "What is the Stennis flag? Why a famous MS senator's granddaughter made her own". Sun Herald. Retrieved June 23, 2020.
  42. ^ Watkins, Billy (February 20, 2016). "Watkins: Stennis granddaughter offers new flag option". The Clarion Ledger. Retrieved June 22, 2020.
  43. ^ "News". Stennis Flag. Retrieved January 21, 2019.
  44. ^ Monday, Joe Rogers Email the author Published 7:00 am; January 15; 2018 (January 15, 2018). "This should be Mississippi's state flag. And with enough support, it could be". Magnolia State Live. Retrieved January 21, 2019. {{cite web}}: |first= has generic name (help); |last3= has numeric name (help)CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  45. ^ Lee, China (April 17, 2019). "Mississippi residents can display state flag minus Confederate battle emblem with new specialty license plate". WMC-TV. Jackson, Mississippi. Retrieved April 18, 2019.
  46. ^ "Mississippi drivers can put flag minus rebel X on license - The Washi…". archive.is. April 26, 2019. Archived from the original on April 26, 2019.
  47. ^ "Mississippi governor signs bill permitting license plates with altern…". archive.is. April 26, 2019. Archived from the original on April 26, 2019.
  48. ^ Ganucheau, Adam (June 18, 2020). "SEC commissioner to lawmakers: Lose Confederate emblem from state flag, or lose championship events". Mississippi Today. Retrieved June 18, 2020.
  49. ^ @OleMissSports (June 18, 2020). "A message from Chancellor Glenn Boyce and Vice Chancellor for Intercollegiate Athletics Keith Carter" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  50. ^ Keenum, Mark (June 18, 2020). "Statement from MSU President Mark E. Keenum". Mississippi State University. Retrieved June 18, 2020.
  51. ^ @JohnCohenAD (June 18, 2020). "IMAGE" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  52. ^ @lemo22 (June 18, 2020). "#Hailstate IMAGE" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  53. ^ @YolettMcCuin (June 18, 2020). "I am in total agreement with our leaders and I hope we can continue to move in a direction that is inclusive for all! I am glad that we do not fly that flag on our campus and I thank both Keith and Chancellor Boyce for taking a stand on this!❤️💙" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  54. ^ @RebelCoachDavis (June 18, 2020). "This flag has not been flown on our campus in years! Proud of our Administration for taking a stand!! It's what's right and best for state to grow in all areas!" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  55. ^ Bromberg, Nick (June 19, 2020). "Mississippi schools can't host any NCAA championship events after NCAA broadens Confederate flag policy". Yahoo Sports. Retrieved June 19, 2020.
  56. ^ "Miss. public university presidents respond to NCAA decision regarding state flag". WLOX. June 19, 2020. Retrieved June 20, 2020.
  57. ^ Suss, Nick (June 22, 2020). "Conference USA joins NCAA, SEC in banning postseason events in Mississippi until flag is changed". The Clarion Ledger. Retrieved June 22, 2020. The Conference USA is taking a cue from the NCAA and SEC by prohibiting all postseason play from taking place in Mississippi until the Confederate emblem is removed from Mississippi's flag.
  58. ^ "Mississippi Association of Community Colleges supports changing state flag". WTOK-TV. June 23, 2020. Retrieved June 23, 2020.
  59. ^ Pender, Geoff (June 23, 2020). "'It's a moral issue:' Mississippi Baptist Convention calls for new state flag". Mississippi Today. Retrieved June 23, 2020.
  60. ^ Gibson, Kate (June 23, 2020). "Walmart rids Mississippi stores of state flag bearing Confederate emblem". CBS News. Retrieved June 24, 2020.
  61. ^ Duffy, Clare (June 23, 2020). "Walmart stops displaying the Mississippi state flag in stores because of Confederate flag imagery". CNN. Retrieved June 24, 2020.
  62. ^ MS Code § 37-13-7 (2018).

Further reading

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Flags of Mississippi.
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