Gulfport City Council votes unanimously to replace Mississippi state flag at city buildings

Earlier this afternoon, the Gulfport City Council unanimously passed a referendum that removed the current state flag from flying at city offices.

This comes on the heels of racial tensions across the country, now sparking unrest in Mississippi over continuing to fly a flag that represents a symbol of division from the past.

Gulfport City Councilman Truck Casey called on the state legislature to respectfully retire the state flag, saying in part, “flags should exemplify the societies they represent and serve to unify people. The Confederate emblem on the current state flag does not represent the values and principals of Mississippians.”

With the unanimous yes vote from the seven members of the council, the state flag has now been removed at city facilities with the Magnolia flag in its place as of now.

The referendum will now go to Jackson where legislators will make a decision. “It needs to be done. It needs to be done. We need to unify, become one Mississippi, one Gulf Coastian. I pray that it all works out and that from today forward, we all work together to make Gulfport and Mississippi a better place to live,” said Casey.