“It’s the first time a Mississippi Republican elected official has publicly called for the removal of the emblem that served as the battle flag flown by the Confederate army during the Civil War.”
That’s not true, former Governor Ronnie Musgrove called for a change. A referendum was held, the bumper stickers most evident in the campaign said “Change the Governor, Keep the Flag”. A large majority voted to keep the Flag, it also carried in the black community but not by as wide a margin as the white community. One of the few areas that of the State where they voted to change the flag was Starkville and the rest of Oktibbeha County, Home of Mississippi State University and that vote was likely an anti-Ole Miss vote. Governor Musgrove was a one term Governor losing to Haley Baqrbour. Change the Governor, Keep the Flag bumper stickers were widespread during this campaign.
Change the Speaker, Keep the Flag.