COLUMBUS, Miss.–The state flag will no longer fly over government buildings in Columbus, but will still fly over schools, after a unanimous vote by Columbus council members Tuesday night. The matter was also discussed, but not voted on in Tupelo.
Columbus Mayor Robert Smith asked council members to vote to take the flag down, and they voted to have it removed from fire and police buildings, city hall and city parks.
“I want to thank the council; for taking the move to where its time for change. Mississippi is always last and we don’t want Columbus to be last. I think this is a great move in the right direction,” said Smith after the vote.
Columbus joins Vicksburg, Magnolia, Clarksdale, Hattiesburg and Grenada in taking down what some are calling a symbol of hatred. Mississippi is the only state that still has the Confederate symbol as part of its state flag.
Mississippi voters chose to keep the flag in 2001, but now some believe the state legislature should consider the matter.
In Tupelo, the matter was discussed at Tuesday’s meeting when a resident asked the council to bring it to a vote, which they did not.
However, the council may bring it up and vote on it in a future meeting.
