Republican Rep. William Shirley of Quitman tried to attach his flag proposal to two higher-education budget bills on Monday, but the House narrowly rejected that effort. Photo courtesy Mississippi House of Representatives
JACKSON, Miss. (AP) — The Mississippi House has halted a push to require that universities fly the state's Confederate-themed flag.
Mississippi Flag: A Symbol of Hate or Reconciliation?
The Mississippi Sons of Confederate Veterans are fighting hard to keep the state flag to honor the Confederacy. Others are fighting back.
Republican Rep. William Shirley of Quitman persuaded the House last week to withhold a tax break from universities that don't fly the flag. But a committee chairman pledged to kill the bill by not bringing it up for a vote. Quitman tried to attach the proposal to two higher-education budget bills on Monday, but the House narrowly rejected that effort.
All eight of Mississippi's public universities stopped flying the flag, which prominently features the Confederate battle emblem, angering flag supporters.
Shirley says universities should be required to fly the state flag, regardless of what symbols adorn it, if they take state money.
For more history about the state flag visit jfp.ms/slavery.
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