Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves signs bill removing Confederate battle emblem from state flag

JACKSON, Miss. — The state of Mississippi’s House and Senate voted Sunday to remove the Confederate battle emblem from their state flag, multiple media outlets reported.

Update 6:32 p.m. EDT June 30: Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves officially signed Tuesday the bill that will formally remove the existing state flag featuring a Confederate battle emblem.

Watch the moment below.

Reeves comments came two days after the measure made bipartisan history in the Mississippi State House and drew a standing ovation. The state flag had featured the controversial emblem in its upper left-hand corner since 1894.

Original report: Mississippi is the last state in the nation whose flag displays any vestige of the symbol, and the Senate vote triggered raucous applause and cheers, The Associated Press reported.

According to CBS News, the bill passed by a vote of 91-23 in the House and 37-14 in the Senate.

Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves said Saturday he will sign the bill, but he has not yet indicated how quickly he plans to do so. The current flag loses its official status as soon as Reeves provides his signature.

The Rebel-themed Mississippi state flag, pushed through by a white supremacists-led Legislature in 1894 as backlash to growing political power African Americans gained after the Civil War, lacked official status, the state Supreme Court said in 2000. When state laws were updated in 1906, the portions dealing with the state flag were not carried forward, the court ruled. However, voters approved keeping the flag during a 2001 election.

-- The Associated Press contributed to this report.


On AirHits 105.3 San Antonio’s Hottest Music - San Antonio’s Hottest Music Logo



More from Hits 105.3



mobile apps

Everything you love about magic1053.com and more! Tap on any of the buttons below to download our app.

amazon alexa

Enable our Skill today to listen live at home on your Alexa Devices!