In Mississippi, there is actual, serious talk—as in state legislators discussions—of having two state flags; one would have the confederate rebel ross and one would not. There’s also talk of purse strings and punitive measures if public institutions in the state refuse to fly the state flag. The current one, that is. These folks are simply not playing around when it comes to their symbols of white supremacy.
The Associated Press is reporting that:
“Speaker Pro Tempore Greg Snowden, the House's second ranking leader, proposes having two state flags with equal status, so people could fly whichever one they want — the current flag or an historical flag with a magnolia tree in the center.”
“My daughter and her family live in Texas. You go out there and there's a Texas flag on every corner," said Snowden, a Republican from Meridian. "You don't see that in Mississippi.”
Several cities, counties and universities in Mississippi—including the University of Mississippi—have stopped flying the state flag since the massacre of nine African Americans at Emmanuel A.M.E. Church in Charleston, South Carolina, in June of 2015. The assailant in that slaying, Dylann Roof, was a supporter of the confederacy and was photographed wearing the Confederal symbol. The state of South Carolina removed their Confederate flag from the state-house grounds, and other states throughout the South have held discussions on the issue.
“Republican state Rep. William Shirley of Quitman said that became a hot topic of conversation at his catfish restaurant when the University of Mississippi stopped flying the flag. The consensus, he said, was that any school that takes state money should fly the flag. Shirley is now sponsoring legislation to pull state money from universities, community colleges or local governments that don't fly the banner.”
“Whatever our flag is, I think public institutions or people that get government dollars need to fly whatever that is," said Shirley, who supports keeping the Confederate emblem.”