A study by the Southern Poverty Law Center found 93 confederate symbols have been removed or relocated nationwide since the May killing of George Floyd in police custody. The Mississippi state flag is one of them. Brandon Jones is the state policy director. He says confederate symbols affect how people see their community and attitudes about policing.
“If a government erects symbology that celebrates the Civil War and the fight to preserve slavery, that can have an impact on the way that agents of that government see themselves and see their role. How could it not,” said Jones.
Jones, who is white, says they are advocating confederate monuments be removed from public places. He says Mississippi is ethnically diverse and the symbols convey a message of White Supremacy, which has relegated many blacks to low wage jobs, poor health and educational outcomes.
“What you see is an intentionality. What it says to me is that White Supremacy is not something that accidentally slipped into the water table. It was something that was put their on purpose to maintain a particular power structure,” said Jones.
Ross Alderidge is with the Dixie Alliance. He doesn’t want confederate monuments removed and says there’s no correlation between the symbols and the killing of George Floyd. He says the monuments honor Civil War veterans.
“And I can tell you from those who are active today in keeping our monuments wherever they’re located, keeping the flag, there is no racism involved there whatsoever. As a matter of fact the word systemic racism is used without proof almost every time I hear it,” said Aldridge.
Brandon Jones with Southern Poverty Law Center says more Mississippi towns are removing confederate monuments or talking about doing so.
