/Flag commission gets moving, without Gov Reeves’ appointments

Flag commission gets moving, without Gov Reeves’ appointments

Six of the nine-member members of the commission unanimously moved their deadline for a new flag design to Sept. 14 from Sept. 14. This was to give them more time to place it on a Nov. 3. ballot. Over the next few weeks, the commission will likely review hundreds of submissions and choose one final design from each. Next week, they will meet with a flag expert or vexillologist. The commission’s chairman was also chosen unanimously by Reuben Anderson, a former justice of the state Supreme Court. Officials present at the meeting did not comment on Reeves’ inability to make his three appointments. However, the commission has sufficient members to form a quorum so they will continue to move forward. Reeves opposed the Legislature’s removal of the state’s 1894 Flag with its divisive Confederate Battle Emblem but signed the bill into legislation. He has not given any explanation other than that he is too busy. Reeves stated Wednesday that the commission had met and said: “I don’t know if this is something you’ve noticed, but we are facing serious hospital capacity issues (from CoVID-19), and people are dying every single day…. We will make appointments when we make those appointment.” On Wednesday, he also questioned whether the Constitution gives lawmakers the authority to convene a meeting of the executive branch or make appointments to such an entity. Philip Gunn, House Speaker, and Lt. Governor. Last week, Delbert Hosemann and Philip Gunn were appointed to the commission. Gunn, who was the leader of the legislative effort to remove the 1894 state emblem and wrote the bill, thanked the members of the commission and highlighted the historical “weight” that their work had. He opened Wednesday’s meeting. Gunn stated, “We are making history.” “We will be proud of the banner that we choose, and it will probably last forever. Gunn stated, “When that banner goes up, you will be able to say, Hey, that was me!’ and your grandchildren won’t know that you did it.” “… The children and grandchildren of Israel have a banner that they unify behind… even pirates have one that states we rape and plunder, but they unite around it… We need an identity that the whole state can be proud to wear that represents all of our people. Anderson stated that he went to Ole Miss law school in 1965 and that that flag was carried by every student on campus at that time. Anderson said that the Confederate uniforms were worn by the marching band back in 1965. It was so that I wasn’t welcomed. Anderson stated that “every courtroom I entered all those years, that flag informed me I wasn’t welcome.” Anderson stated that he and thousands of Mississippians had been “steeped-armed” by the flag. Two of the members of the commission were able to attend Wednesday’s meeting at Two Museums via videoconference. The Mississippi Department of Archives and History provides support and clerical assistance to the commission. The commission reviewed the Legislature’s charter. It was directed to select a new flag design. This must include the words “In God We Trust” but cannot contain Confederate battle emblems. The commission will rework the design to be on the ballot in 2021 if voters reject it. On Wednesday, Katie Blount, Archives and History Director, told the commission that both the secretary of states’ office and the county circuit clerks expressed concern that the Sept. 14 deadline to choose a new design would make it difficult for the flag to be placed on the ballot. The deadline was moved to September 2 by the commissioners. They scheduled meetings for July 28, August 19, and September 2, and indicated that they may schedule additional meetings. Last week, the Department of Archives put out a call to the public for designs. It has received approximately 600 submissions so far. It was considered that archives staff could winnow the list down to a shorter list to allow them to view. Mack Varner, a Vicksburg lawyer, stated that he would like to see all submitted designs. Others agreed. The commission plans to have a list of 25 designs by August 19. Although the commission does not have to select a public-submitted design, it could make its own. However, commissioners seemed unanimous in their desire to choose from public submissions. Sherri Carr Bevis, a Gulfport marketing and communications executive, stated that “I believe the public’s involvement is very important in this.” Anderson shared with his colleagues that he is a long-time jurist and believes that “In God We Trust” is a challenge. “But if ever there was a time when Mississippi and the nation needed In God We Trust it is now,” Anderson stated. “I look forward supporting that phrase.”_x000D