In June, lawmakers decided to take down the state flag that featured the Confederate battle emblem. Since then, Mississippi has not had an official state flag. Officials at the Mississippi Department of Archives and History called for submissions Monday to officially start the process of creating a new flag. Public submissions are due by August 13. The Gov. will appoint a nine-member committee to review the proposals. Tate Reeves and Lt. Governor. Delbert Hosemann, House Speaker Philip Gunn. These appointees are expected to be announced and made by July 15. According to the law that was passed in June, the new flag must contain the words “In God we Trust” and cannot include the Confederate battle symbol. The commission has until September 14 to choose a new flag design. The Nov. 3 general elections will determine whether voters approve or reject the design. If voters reject the design, the commission will choose a different option in the 2021 legislative session. Voters would need to again approve the new option on a statewide referendum before it can be adopted. Reeves and Hosemann will each appoint three members to the commission. Three representatives must be appointed by the governor to the commission. They will come from the Mississippi Economic Council and the Mississippi Arts Commission. Hosemann and Gunn do not have to be appointed to specific commissions. Many saw the old flag as a symbol for hate, a long-standing point of contention in Mississippi politics. Mississippi voters voted nearly 2-to-1 in 2001 to keep the divisive emblem on their state flag. This decision solidified its position on the official state banner for almost two decades. Supporters of the flag change have struggled for years to get the majority necessary to alter the controversial banner via the regular legislative process. The violent death in Minneapolis of George Floyd, a Black man caused nationwide protests and brought new attention to the flag. In recent weeks, there has been a lot of pressure from religious, business and civic leaders as well as sports, universities, sports, and other leaders to take the Confederate emblem off the flag. Businesses, counties, and other groups began to ask leaders to remove the Confederate emblem from the flag. A growing number of businesses, cities, counties, and other groups have stopped flying the flag or asked leaders to change it.