‘Flag for All Mississippians’ Commends Southern Miss for Removing Flag with Confederate Symbol from Campus

University of Southern Mississippi now joins Ole Miss in removing
state flag from their campuses. Flag includes the Confederate symbol,
which many find to be a painful reminder of slavery and segregation.

‘Flag for All’ Coalition also lauds Jackson State, Alcorn State and
Mississippi Valley State Universities for no longer flying the flag on
campus; Coalition urges other Mississippi schools and colleges to follow
suit.

JACKSON, MS–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Today the ‘Flag
for All Mississippians’ Coalition applauded Southern Miss—the University
of Southern Mississippi—and its President, Rodney Bennett, who
ordered the Mississippi state flag taken down on all Southern Miss
campuses as of October 28. Southern Miss now joins Ole Miss, which last
week removed the flag from its campus. The flag is being taken down
because it includes the Confederate symbol, which many find to be a
painful reminder of slavery and segregation.

According to the Clarion
Ledger, President Bennett wrote an email to students stating, “While
I love the state of Mississippi, there is passionate disagreement about
the current state flag on our campuses and in our communities. I am
looking forward to a time when this debate is resolved and USM raises a
state flag that unites us.”

The ‘Flag for All Mississippians’ Coalition is also lauding Jackson
State University, Alcorn State University and Mississippi Valley State
University for no longer flying the flag on their campuses.

“We commend Southern Miss for removing this divisive symbol from its
campuses and urge other Mississippi schools and colleges to quickly
follow suit,” said Sharon Brown of the ‘Flag for All
Mississippians’ Coalition. “We were encouraged last week when Ole
Miss removed the flag from its campus and are heartened by Southern
Mississippi’s action yesterday. The actions at Southern Miss, Ole Miss,
JSU, Alcorn and Mississippi Valley—which also all no longer fly the
flag—serve as proof that the desire for a state flag representing all
Mississippians is shared by residents young and old alike.”

The ‘Flag for All Mississippians’ Coalition, representing a diverse
group of Mississippians, is sponsoring the Flag for All Mississippians
Act (Initiative Measure #55) that will amend the Mississippi State
Constitution and provide that: “The flag of the State of Mississippi
shall not contain or include any reference to the Confederate army’s
battle flag or to the Confederacy.”

The ballot title for Initiative Measure #55:

“Should the Confederate battle flag or any reference to the Confederacy
be removed from the State Flag?”

The ballot summary for Initiative Measure #55:

Initiative Measure #55 proposes to add the following language to the
Mississippi Constitution: “The flag of the State of Mississippi shall
not contain or include any reference to the Confederate army’s battle
flag or to the Confederacy.” As an enforcement mechanism, a Mississippi
citizen may petition the Mississippi Supreme Court for a writ of
mandamus requiring the State, its political subdivisions, their agents,
officers, or employees to comply with the amendment.

Contacts

‘Flag for All Mississippians’ Coalition
Sharon Brown
(601)
812-4512
Sharon@newmsflag.org
or
Christopher
Johnson
(310) 880-9913
Christopher@newmsflag.org