Hurricane season throws out the first pitch eight days into the season. Tropical Storm Cristobal comes ashore, causing coastal flooding and some inland wind damage.
The post Marshall Ramsey: Cristobal Comes and Goes appeared first on Mississippi Today.
Rogelio V. Solis, AP
Sons of Confederate Veterans and other groups parade on the grounds of the state Capitol in Jackson, Miss., Tuesday, Jan. 19, 2016, in support of keeping the Confederate battle emblem on the state flag.
As organizers of Saturday’s historic Black Lives Matter protest in downtown Jackson decried state-sanctioned racial inequities, a massive Mississippi state flag — the last in the nation containing the Confederate battle emblem — flapped in the breeze a few yards behind them in front of the home of Gov. Tate Reeves.
The crowd of at least 3,000 protesters later marched past the Mississippi State Capitol, where state flags flew outside the office windows of Lt. Gov. Delbert Hosemann and Speaker of the House Philip Gunn, and loudly chanted: “Change the flag!”
Reeves, Hosemann and Gunn, in the most pivotal racial moment in America since the 1960s, find themselves leading the state with the highest percentage of black residents in the nation. As tens of thousands of black Mississippians and their multi-racial allies marched the streets of dozens of cities in recent days, the state flag has been and will remain a focal point of demonstrations.
“Elected officials who choose to stay silent on this issue are cowards,” said Jarrius Adams, a 22-year-old activist who co-organized Saturday’s Black Lives Matter protest in Jackson. “The history and heritage it symbolizes isn’t welcoming or inclusive for black folks. Our elected officials have a responsibility to ensure anything that represents our state represents us equitably.”
The state flag, long the subject of controversy in Mississippi, was adopted in 1894 by white lawmakers, hungry for power following years of black leadership during Reconstruction. Most of the white Mississippians who held power in the late 1800s and early 1900s were direct descendants of soldiers who fought or died in the Civil War. They championed racist policies meant to limit the rights of black Mississippians, and they paid homage to the Lost Cause in the form of monuments, flags and other iconography that glorified the South’s losing fight to uphold slavery.
Violent and racist extremist groups like the Ku Klux Klan commandeered the Confederate battle emblem during their rise of power in the mid-1900s. Even today, those sparsely organized groups and lone-wolf stragglers clinging to their same values still prominently feature the flag. Some extremists have even displayed the Mississippi state flag beside the Confederate battle flag at nationally broadcast protests in recent years.
Despite the history of the symbol, efforts to change the Mississippi flag have failed. Few political moments in recent years — including the referendum in 2001 in which Mississippians voted almost 2-to-1 to keep the current flag — have spurred meaningful staying power for those who want the state’s elected officials to change the flag.
But this current movement, as displayed in Jackson and cities across the state the past week, provides hope to many Mississippians that a change is possible.
In just the past few days, there’s precedent for state leaders to act as Confederate iconography across the South is being toppled. Where protesters haven’t taken matters into their own hands, leaders of major Southern cities have removed statues and flags and other Confederate symbolism.
Last week, even the United States Marine Corps issued a ban on the Confederate battle flag at Marine installations (though the Marines did leave an exception specifically for Mississippi because of its state flag).
Reeves, Hosemann and Gunn likely carry the influence to change the state flag. They’d need support from at least a simple majority of the Legislature, but all three can whip majority votes with ease. With that support, the process could be completed start-to-finish in one day with careful planning.
These are the legislative steps to change the state flag:
Lawmakers have long pointed back to the 2001 flag referendum and said that Mississippians themselves, not the Legislature, should decide the fate of the flag on a statewide ballot. But that 2001 vote completely excluded the largest voting bloc in the state: millennials and generation Z. Any Mississippian currently under the age of 37 years old was unable to vote in that referendum.
“I was 3-years-old in April of 2001, but now I can vote and I pay taxes,” Adams, the organizer, said. “I also am one of the few students who chose to stay in Mississippi after graduating from the University of Mississippi. At some point we have to say that a new generation has risen and things needs to change.”
Reeves, playing to his base of conservative, older white voters across the state, pointed to the 2001 vote in an October 2019 gubernatorial debate and said voters should again decide the fate of the flag.
Hosemann also pushed the “citizens should vote” narrative as recently as late 2019. But several key lawmakers at the Capitol believe his perspective on politics could spur a change of heart, particularly in this moment of pain for so many. Hosemann, a political moderate who supports issues like expanding Medicaid, has worked hard to maintain close working relationships with leaders of the Legislative Black Caucus.
A few days after he took office in January, Mississippi Today asked him in a podcast interview if he realized he was broadly considered by voters as a politician who could better represent Mississippians who have long felt underrepresented in Jackson. Hosemann acknowledged he’d heard that sentiment from Mississippians of all races and political backgrounds, and his answer to the question moved two of his staffers in the room to tears.
“I have a distinct feeling that I have a burden here, a big heavy weight,” Hosemann told Mississippi Today in the podcast interview. “My issues, I think, are the ones that are talked about at the kitchen table. And that’s on purpose.”
Hosemann continued: “I so don’t want to disappoint so many people that are thinking I can make their lives better. I think if you care about people, you end up feeling like this. It’s a heavy weight for anybody. I will try as hard as I possibly can. I don’t intend to disappoint anyone. It’ll be better than what it is today.”
Gunn remains one of the only top Mississippi Republican officials who has publicly maintained that the state flag should change. Though his personal position hasn’t wavered, no bills to change the flag have passed through a House committee under his leadership. In sessions past, he said he didn’t believe he had the votes in the House or support in the Senate to seriously push the issue.
In theory, Hosemann and Gunn wouldn’t need Reeves’ participation. As long as they could whip two-thirds votes in their chambers, they could create a veto-proof majority to change the state flag. They’ve proven the ability to do that on other issues already this session.
But many Mississippians feel this moment is different, and elected officials’ role in perpetuating racism is at the heart of the movement. On Saturday, several protesters said that a push to change the flag from Reeves, Hosemann and Gunn could help create unity in the state that would resonate with every Mississippian involved in the movement.
“The flag and other symbols celebrate a fictional, sanitized Confederacy and a history that enslaved, traumatized and oppressed my ancestors for more than 400 years,” Adams said. “I see the flag and it shows me how much work needs to be done.”
“Mississippi is a state that I love,” Adams said, “but with the current state flag, Mississippi struggles to love me back.”
The post Mississippi lawmakers could change the state flag today if they wanted. Here’s how. appeared first on Mississippi Today.
Color your way through Mississippi with me! Click below to download a coloring sheet of Medgar Evers’ Home.
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State Rep. Zakiya Summers, D-Jackson, discusses how the George Floyd killing and the protests in its wake have spurred talks of meaningful criminal justice reform in Mississippi. She also discusses how Mississippi officials must ease access to polls ahead of Election Day during the coronavirus pandemic.
The post Ep. 109: ‘It’ll take leadership’: As protests rage, Mississippi leaders hear renewed talks of criminal justice reform appeared first on Mississippi Today.
Good Tuesday morning everyone!! Temperatures are in the mid to upper 70s across north Mississippi. We have a 50% chance of showers and thunderstorms this morning. Cloudy skies will then gradually become mostly sunny, with a high near 90. South southwest wind around 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.
TONIGHT: A chance of showers/thunderstorms, with a low around 73.
Eric J. Shelton/Mississippi Today
House speaker Philip Gunn, from left, and Gov. Tate Reeves listen as Lt. Gov. Delbert Hosemann speaks at the start of Gov. Tate Reeves’ COVID-19 press conference at the State of Mississippi Woolfolk Building in Jackson, Miss., Thursday, May 7, 2020.
Gov. Tate Reeves and his staff had to feel good last week when the Senate leadership was unable to get the two-thirds super majority needed to pass a House resolution that would allow the Mississippi Legislature to remain in session for the rest of the year.
The resolution could be viewed as a direct affront to Reeves since it would strip away one of the governor’s most coveted powers – the sole authority to call legislators back in a special session once they adjourn the regular session for the year.
But if the Legislature never adjourns the regular session, then the chambers’ two presiding officers – Speaker Philip Gunn in the House and Lt. Gov. Delbert Hosemann in the Senate – could call lawmakers back into session. Gunn and Hosemann already have blocked Reeves’ effort to have sole spending authority of $1.25 billion in federal funds designed to help the state pay for the costs of fighting COVID-19.
Bobby Harrison
It should be no surprise that Reeves, not wanting another legislative defeat, was in the Senate expressing his opposition to the resolution a day after it passed the House with no dissenting votes.
That visit, no doubt, played a part in Hosemann not having the votes to pass the resolution and could be seen as a big win for Reeves – at least for now.
But the fact that Hosemann cannot pass the resolution now does not mean he won’t be able to pass it before the session ends. The Legislature is scheduled to be in session until July 12.
Reeves, who served eight years as lieutenant governor, presiding over the Senate, knows that the legislative leadership has at least one tremendous advantage when it comes to passing or killing legislation. The leadership – Hosemann – has the ability to call up the legislation when he wants – when he thinks or knows he has the votes to pass it.
In addition, the House leaders are placing a tremendous amount of pressure on the Senate to pass the resolution.
Both House and Senate leaders say the ability to stay in session is needed to deal with coronavirus-related issues. Hosemann said he wants the Legislature to be able to return to spend funds, if for instance, the federal government provides money to help state and local governments offset revenue shortfalls caused by the COVID 19-induced economic shortfall.
“That (COVID-19 and budget issues) are the only reasons I would want to come back,” Hosemann said.
Some senators, though, said they want to finish their job and return to the private sector. They already are in the Capitol dealing with budget issues longer than planned. The session was scheduled to end in early May but legislators took a recess because of the coronavirus, putting them in session in the heat of the Mississippi summer.
““I think it is premature to extend the session for the remainder of the year,” Sen. Chris Johnson, R-Hattiesburg, said recently. “If we do our job now, it seems likely that we will not need to come back. The governor can always call a special session if the need arises.”
But perhaps there could be a disagreement between the legislative leadership and governor about when and if the Legislature should be in session. There already have been more disagreements between legislative leaders and the governor in the first year of the four year term than many anticipated considering all involved belong to the same Republican Party.
Even though the Constitution gives the Legislature the authority to remain in session with a two-thirds vote of both chambers, the power apparently has never been used to keep the Legislature in session for a year.
But legislative leaders on both the House and Senate side say while they would technically be in session they would not be in Jackson except under the rarest of circumstances to deal with COVID-19 issues.
Hosemann said the authority is needed because “we are in the most unprecedented time in this state since the Civil War.”
For whatever it is worth, it would cost the state less money, assuming legislators only come back to deal with those coronvavirus-related issues, to stay in regular session than to come back in special session. The Legislature receives a $10,000 base salary for the regular session. If the resolution passed, and legislators returned to Jackson in say September or October to deal with the budget, they would not receive any additional funds. If they are in a special session called by the governor, they receive an additional $75 per day. So it would cost the state an extra $13,050 per day for a special session.
Whether in special session or regular session, they receive expense payments for food and lodging, based on the federal rate, which is currently $151 per day.
The post Reeves holds off legislators’ push for year-round session – for now appeared first on Mississippi Today.
A high chance of showers and thunderstorms today as “Cristobal” moves into the area. Isolated severe storms will be possible. The primary threats with any severe storms will be damaging winds gusts and the possibility of tornadoes. We will see a high near 83 with southeast wind around 15 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph! Chance of precipitation is 90%.
CREATE Foundation announces the election of four new Board of Directors, as well as the appointment of a new Chairman, Vice-Chairman, Secretary and Treasurer.
Joining the Board of Directors are Robyn Tannehill, Mayor of Oxford; Jason Brooks, CPA with Watkins, Ward & Stafford in Houston; Phil Faulkner, former owner of NauticStar Boats in Amory; and Kirk Lewis, President of Blue Springs Metals in Tupelo.
“CREATE is extremely proud of those who have accepted leadership positions as an officer and as members of our board. Our board gives our donors and partners across the region the confidence and trust necessary for CREATE to be successful in fulfilling its mission. Their leadership will build upon the leadership of those who came before them to enable CREATE to continue to be the oldest and largest community foundation in Mississippi.” Mike Clayborne, President of CREATE.
CREATE also welcomes the election of new officers. Bryan Wilson, retired manager and partner of Tacoma AG, LLC, has been appointed to Chairman, and Lisa Hawkins, owner of Room to Room Furniture in Tupelo, has been named Vice-Chairman.
Mary Childs, president of The People’s Bank in Ripley, has been appointed to Treasurer, and David Rumbarger, President and CEO with Community Foundation Development has been appointed to Secretary.
We bid farewell to our retiring members Robin McCormick, Partner with Watkins, Ward & Stafford, PPLC in West Point, and Sandy Williams, president of Coca Cola Bottling Works Corporation in Corinth. Williams has been named emeritus director.
The slate of Board of Directors for 2020-2022 are presented below.
Bryan Wilson, Chairman
Lisa Hawkins, Vice Chairman
Mary Childs, Treasurer
David Rumbarger, Secretary
Guy Mitchell, III, Counsel
Tupelo – The 2020 Summer Coronalympics is right around the corner, and it includes 2 Tupelonians participating in various competitive sports.
Angie Thompson is a laundry warrior and has overcome loads of roadblocks to get to where she is today. She will be participating in the folding competition, along with 30 other athletes.
“I’ve dedicated several decades of my life to this sport and since I’ve recently become unemployed, laundry has been my life, my art, and my soul,” she said. “It’s just such an honor to represent my country and Tupelo.”
The Reaching Race is one of the more competitive sports. Ryan Andrews of Tupelo is the athlete to watch in this category.
“One day my phone dropped on the floor and I didn’t want to get up, so I contorted my body to try to reach it. When I finally did, when I overcame that physical barrier, that’s when I knew. This is my life’s calling. I’m just thankful there’s an outlet and appreciation for my expertise,” he said.
A new addition this year is the sport of Beat Beep, a game that requires skills in timing and focus. Athletes will warm up a hot pocket and must open the microwave door after the timer strikes 1, but before it beeps. The winner will win the hot pocket.
Other sports include indoor parkour, toilet paper collecting, and zoom staring competition, and hand sanitizer balloon fights.
The virtual opening ceremony will take place over zoom, where everyone will light their own candles at the same time, which must remain lit throughout the entirety of the Coronalympics. The athletes will all wear masks with their country’s flag on it.
Eric J. Shelton/Mississippi Today
Protesters listen to speakers while in front of the Governor’s Mansion during the Black Lives Matter protest in downtown Jackson, Miss., Saturday, June 6, 2020.
Thousands of Mississippians gathered Saturday afternoon in downtown Jackson for a peaceful protest against police brutality, inequities in the criminal justice system and state-sponsored Confederate symbolism.
A multi-racial crowd of at least 3,000 people — which some believe is Jackson’s largest demonstration since the civil rights movement — packed the streets for the protest in the hot June sun. Chants of “I can’t breathe!” and “Black lives matter!” and “No justice, no peace!” echoed down Capitol Street outside the Governor’s Mansion as organizers rallied the crowd.
A group of 15 activists — college students and young professionals — organized the Black Lives Matter Mississippi protest in the wake of the killings of George Floyd in Minnesota, Breonna Taylor in Kentucky and Ahmaud Arbery in Georgia. In planning the event, organizers took inspiration from key figures of the civil rights movement.
“Bob Moses reminded us that when you want to look at America, you gotta look where? At Mississippi,” said Maisie Brown, an 18-year-old activist who was a co-organizer of the protest. “If Mississippi is ready for change, then everybody is ready for change.”
Brown continued: “America thought that our humanity was a question. And for the past 12 days of unrest across the United States, we’ve answered that question. Our humanity is not up for discussion, it’s not up for debate, and we will no longer beg anybody to make sure we can live a fruitful and equal life.”
The event began at the Governor’s Mansion at 3 p.m. with speeches from organizers and guest speakers. The crowd later marched through the downtown streets toward the Mississippi State Capitol and then returned to the mansion. Toward the end of the protest around 4:45 p.m., organizers outlined their call to action, asking people to donate to the Black Lives Matter bail fund, hold their community leaders accountable, vote, and educate themselves.
Separately, the group had a list of demands that include removing Confederate symbols and memorabilia, reopening the Ricky Ball case, decreasing the state’s prison population, and centering public health in decisions involving schools returning in the fall because of the coronavirus. The full list can be viewed here.
After protesters wound their way through downtown Jackson and returned to the Governor’s Mansion, the protesters remained silent for eight minutes and 46 seconds, the amount of time Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin held his knee on George Floyd’s neck last month.
Eric J. Shelton/Mississippi Today
Protesters hold signs as they march during the Black Lives Matter protest in downtown Jackson, Miss., Saturday, June 6, 2020.
Thousands of handmade signs were on display Saturday, which bore phrases like “your silence is violence,” “defund police,” “my melanin is not a threat,” and “I can’t breathe.” With temperatures on Saturday surpassing 90 degrees, organizers passed out free water and snacks to attendees.
There was virtually no visible police presence during the entirety of the protest. Uniformed Mississippi Highway Patrol officers watched from inside the gated confines of the Governor’s Mansion — some handed out water outside the entrance — and Capitol Police watched carefully from the doors of the Capitol as protesters marched by.
Jennifer Riley Collins, the Hinds County administrator who unsuccessfully ran for attorney general in 2019, spoke to the crowd and took direct aim at Mississippi public officials who have drawn ire for their actions in recent weeks: Attorney General Lynn Fitch for her decision to dismiss the Ricky Ball case, Petal Mayor Hal Marx for his social media comments about George Floyd’s death, and Madison County Prosecutor Pamela Hancock for her comments suggesting she hopes a “deadly strain” of the coronavirus spreads among rioters that she later suggested was “kind of a joke.”
“We hear your words when you try to say, ‘It’s just a joke,’” Riley Collins said. “My life, our life, black lives are not a joke.”
One key focus of protesters was Mississippi’s state flag, which is the last in the nation containing the Confederate battle emblem. Several times during the rally and the march on Saturday, under the shadow of the state flag at both the Governor’s Mansion and the Capitol, protesters chanted: “Change the flag!”
Near the end of the event, organizers thanked the protesters and encouraged them to stay civically engaged. They specifically mentioned the Nov. 3, 2020, general election, and several people were distributing voter registration forms.
After the last speaker finished, protesters danced in the streets as others left downtown.
The post ‘If Mississippi is ready for change, then everybody is’: Historic crowd of thousands packs streets of Jackson to protest racial inequities appeared first on Mississippi Today.