The attorney general of Mississippi announced her support for the state to change its flag to remove its depiction of the Confederate “Stars and Bars.”
Lynn Fitch, the Republican attorney general, shared a statement to Twitter on Wednesday calling for the flag, which features the Confederate flag in the upper left-hand corner, to be altered.
“I have proudly lived my life in Mississippi and have raised my children in this great State,” she said. “I could travel the world over and not find people who are as kind and generous of spirit as Mississippians. It is my personal belief that it is time for us to change our State flag to reflect the love, compassion, and conviction of our people. The addition of the motto ‘In God We Trust,’ from our State seal is the perfect way to demonstrate who we are to all.”
“We must always remember our past — honor the good and learn from the bad,” Fitch added. “A new flag offers us a pathway forward, moving together as a person toward greater opportunities for economic growth and academic enhancement. As your Attorney General, I will always defend the will of the people, and I encourage all Mississippians to consider the value of standing united behind a flag that tells the world that we trust in our God and follow in His message of love and mercy.”
References to the Confederacy have come under the microscope in recent weeks amid nationwide protests seeking racial equality and an end to police brutality.
Statues of Confederate leaders have been taken down, either by local governments or by protesters, and Congress has removed portraits honoring House speakers who were part of the Confederate government in recent weeks.
