The former Mississippi flag with its Confederate battle emblem is flying off of the shelves inside stores across the state. This spike in sales comes after the legislature and the governor agreed to remove the historic banner.
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Summertime is always busy at A Complete Flag Source in Jackson. People come in to buy flags for cars and boats ahead of their holiday travel and gatherings. But according to co-owner Brenda McIntyre, they’ve sold hundreds of the former Mississippi state flag with itsConfederate battle emblem in just a few days.
“A lot of them are taking them to have as a historical flag to keep,” said McIntyre. “To show their children, to have as an explanation and we have that across the board.”
Ted Dempsey says he drove down from Yazoo County to buy more than a hundred dollars worth of flags - in different sizes - for his home and his wheelchair. For him, seeing the former flag lose its official status is upsetting.
“Cause they ain't give me a choice when they go and vote,” said Dempsey. “And then they all of a sudden go take it down? That ain't fair.”
Critics say the retired flag with the confederate imagery represents slavery and the state’s Jim Crow past. Just over a week ago, lawmakers passed legislation to change the state’s banner and the governor agreed to sign it in a historic ceremony.
Kay Harold of Raymond says for her the flag is an artifact of the Civil War. She's here at the store buying flags for herself and family members in Missouri.
“I will fly the new flag,” she said. “I’ll hold this one dear, you know, for everything that it means.”
A nine-member commission will design a new flag that cannot include the Confederate battle emblem and must have the words “In God We Trust.” The deadline to present it to the legislature is September 14. The new design will be on the November ballot.