The legislation, which passed the state House of Representatives in a 91-23 vote and the state Senate with a 37-14 vote, comes as Mississippi lawmakers have been considering a change to their flag for weeks between from continued racial justice protests across the country. The flag, first adopted in 1894, has red, white, and blue stripes with the Confederate Battle emblem in the corner.
State Representative Jeramey Anderson, a Democrat from Moss Point, applauded his passing on Sunday as a “historic moment.”
And NAACP President Derrick Johnson told CNN’s Wolf Blitzer on Sunday night, “This is a long time to come.”
“Ultimately, Mississippi decided to be one of the 50 states, and not the only state that is still alone with the emblem of a segregated society,” he said.
Sunday’s vote came after the Mississippi House and Senate passed a resolution Saturday to begin the process of changing the flag.
After those votes, Jefferson Davis’ great-great-grandson Bertram Hayes-Davis agreed to the possible change of the Mississippi flag, saying that the “battle flag has been hijacked” and “does not represent the entire Mississippi population “
“It is historical and heritage related, there are many people who see it that way, and God bless them for that heritage. So put it in a museum and do it there or put it in your house, but the Mississippi flag should represent to the entire population, and I am delighted that we will finally make that change, “Hayes-Davis told CNN’s Ana Cabrera on Saturday in” Newsroom. “
The Confederation flag, its symbols, and statues commemorating Confederate leaders have long divided the country. Critics call the flag a symbol representing war to defend slavery, while supporters call it a sign of pride and Southern heritage.
The symbols have increasingly become a call to white supremacists.
In recent weeks, the death of George Floyd has led to the removal, by protesters in some cases and city leaders in others, of contentious statues and Confederate symbols that have plagued some residents for decades, if not more.
He was pronounced dead soon after. His death, which was captured on video, has sparked widespread protests across the United States, with people calling for an end to police brutality against people of color.
This story has been updated with a further reaction from Mississippi lawmakers and the NAACP president.
CNN’s Kay Jones, Allison Gordon, James Froio and Kelly Mena contributed to this report.
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