Flag Must Go - Now: Jackson group presses for change on Juneteenth anniversary

Justin Vicory Mississippi Clarion Ledger

A prominent Jackson activist group called for the retirement of the Mississippi flag on the Juneteenth anniversary, saying it continues to bring up painful memories for African Americans in the state every time it is raised in front of state-owned buildings.

Cooperation Jackson, a group dedicated to improving economic prospects for Jackson residents, is the latest of several organizations to put pressure on state lawmakers to make a change in recent days.

The state flag is the only remaining flag in the nation to incorporate Confederate imagery. The last time the issue of changing the flag had serious consideration was in 2001 when it was put on the ballot for a public vote. A majority of Mississippians voted to keep the flag.

But momentum has been building to remove the imagery from the flag as racial unrest sweeps the nation.

State flag a painful vestige "The statement that the flag represents the Southern heritage of Mississippi is valid and true," said Sacajawea Hall, operations coordinator for Cooperation Jackson.

"But it also represents the history to the people of African descent in Mississippi as well...People of African descent in Mississippi cannot tolerate the flag any longer. It must come down now or be taken down by any means necessary."

The group made the remarks on June 19, or Juneteenth, a day of celebration and commemoration of the ending of slavery in the United States on June 19, 1865. Two and a half years after the Emancipation Proclamation, the last remaining slaves were freed.

The national holiday has taken on extra significance after the death of George Floyd prompted protests against racial injustice and police brutality. Floyd died after Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin kneeled on his neck for almost nine minutes.

In response, protests have sprung up across the nation and globe, including in both small and large towns and cities across Mississippi. Many of those protests have evolved into efforts to remove Confederate monuments from public squares in the state as well as change the flag.

"Take down the symbols that dehumanize us. Take down the symbols that represent hatred. Take down the symbols that represent fear. Take down the symbols from the most shameful period of our history together...We hope (legislators) will make a different decision and embrace a symbol we can all embrace," said the Rev. Horace McMillon at the press conference.

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State lawmakers in recent days have moved to resolve the flag issue within the Capitol and Lt. Gov. Delbert Hosemann has tasked the Senate Constitution committee to review the matter, although some say there is a slim chance it will make it out of committee.

Still, it could mark the first time since 2001 that there has been serious consideration of changing the state flag which could possibly lead again to a public vote on the issue.

NCAA, SEC weigh in over flag The message of Cooperation Jackson is bolstered by an announcement from Nascar that it will no longer allow Confederate flags at its racing events. Additionally, SEC commissioner Greg Sankey took a stand against the flag Thursday evening.

Sankey said in a statement that until the Confederate emblem is removed from the upper-left corner of Mississippi's state flag, the conference will consider precluding SEC championship events from being conducted in the Magnolia State.

And Friday morning, the NCAA Board of Governors expanded its Confederate flag policy to prevent any NCAA championship events from being played in states where the symbol has a prominent presence.

Mississippi is the only state currently affected by the policy.

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Hall said the decisions by the NCAA and SEC are "a very key and important step." She puts ultimate responsibility on lawmakers. Putting the issue up for a public vote skirts the issue and allows legislators to wash their hands of the decision, she said.

Flag alternative? The proposed alternative to the current state flag is the Stennis Flag, one that can be seen flying in front of homes and businesses in Jackson and across the state. Its design consists of 19 blue stars around one large star to commemorate the state's induction into the United States in 1817.

But it too faces its own criticism. Its designer and namesake, Laurin Stennis, is the granddaughter of the late U.S. Senator John C. Stennis. The senator was an outspoken segregationist who voted against the Voting Rights Act, the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Civil Rights Act of 1968.

Cooperation Jackson said it isn't endorsing the Stennis flag or any alternative yet. They say that step will come after the fight to change the current flag is over.