Mississippi’s business, church, and community leaders called for a change. The state is now under increased national scrutiny due to calls to remove relics from slavery and the Confederacy. The NCAA and the Southeastern Conference put pressure on lawmakers to change the flag late last week. Both groups threatened to stop Mississippi from hosting postseason collegiate sporting events until the flag was changed. The NCAA was urged to take this decision by dozens of former and current college athletes. Kylin Hill, Mississippi State’s star runningback, tweeted Monday that he wouldn’t play football until the flag was changed. The Mississippi Economic Council is the state’s chamber for commerce and has long called to change the state flag. MEC stated last week that the current flag was “offensive to many, not representative for all Mississippians, and perpetuates negative stereotypes about our state.”