Mississippi State Flag

The Mississippi state flag was the last in the nation containing the Confederate battle emblem until lawmakers officially voted to retire it to a museum July 2020.

The Mississippi flag, long the subject of controversy in Mississippi, was adopted in 1894 by white lawmakers, hungry for power following years of black leadership during Reconstruction.

Despite the history of the symbol, efforts to change the Mississippi flag had previously failed. Amid a renewed national focus on racial injustice, Mississippi faced growing pressure from business, religious, sports and civic leaders and institutions to change its flag.

After decades of debate, lawmakers passed a law removing the flag and calling for design of a new one. The law calls for a commission to develop a single new design by September, and Mississippi voters will approve or reject that design on the November 2020 ballot.