Public ‘engaged’ in Confederate-free Mississippi flag with over 600 design ideas submitted

By EMILY WAGSTER PETTUS
Associated Press

JACKSON, Miss. (AP) — A state official says the people have already submitted about 600 ideas for a new Mississippi flag without the Confederate battle emblem.

Department of Archives and History director Katie Blount says the public is “really engaged” in the process.

She spoke to commissioners who met for the first time Wednesday. They are in charge of drawing a new Mississippi flag that will go on the ballot in November.

The design cannot include the Confederate battle emblem and must have the phrase, “In God We Trust.”

Mississippi recently retired the last state flag with the Confederate symbol that’s widely seen as racist.