In a historic decision, both chambers of Mississippi’s congress have voted in favour of removing the Confederate battle emblem from the state flag.
A bill proposing the move was passed in both the House by 91-23 and in the Senate 37-14.
The flag, adopted in 1894, was the last US state to feature the Confederate symbol after Georgia redesigned their flag in 2003.
The bill will mean the current flag will be immediately removed, with a nine-person commission appointed to design a new flag by mid-September. Mississippi voters will have their say on the proposed redesign in a referendum on Election Day – November 3rd.
Republican Governor Tate Reeves is set to sign the bill into law, having indicated his desire to end the “divisive” debate over the state flag.
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