Video: Mississippi State Flag Debate Continues

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Columbus, Miss. (WCBI) —
The Confederate battle flag that waved above the South Carolina Capitol building has been taken down, and now Mississippi lawmakers have to make a decision on the state flag’s design.

In 2001, the state of Mississippi had a referendum where the people decided the the fate of the current state flag’s design.

The people overwhelming voted in favor for that design.

Speaker of the House Philip Gunn said something will be done but lawmakers first have to decide whether they’ll leave the future of the flag’s controversial design to the people or leave it in their hands.

“The legislature has the authority to vote to change the flag…,” says Ellis, “…and to select a flag…and they can do it without going to the polls to have the people put in that position. It’s our responsibility and we’re the ones that should do it.”

In respect to the argument that the flag is important from a historical perspective, Ellis says that “history is something that you protect and you preserve…but heritage is something that you have and you try to live by and if you’re going to live by the heritage of this flag then we’re all in a sad way right now.”

Although legislators have the authority, some believe it’s a political fire storm.

“They know this is politically suicidal to vote against what their constituents think…”, says District 37 Representative Gary Chism (R).

“They’re really trying to push us as [legislators] to vote to change the flag…”, continued Chism, “…I don’t think that’s going to happen, I think that if anything happens, we’ll call for another referendum.”

Ellis also mentioned that he doesn’t believe anything will be resolved before the regular session of Congress in January.

Both Ellis and Chism both mentioned how the Magnolia Flag could be an alternative to the current flag’s design.