Mississippi Governor Signs Bill Removing State Flag With Confederate Emblem

The Mississippi state flag, which incorporates the Confederate battle flag, hangs with other state flags in the subway system under the U.S. Capitol in Washington on June 23, 2015. Jonathan Ernst/Reuters

Mississippi Governor Tate Reeves on Tuesday signed a bill into law replacing the current state flag that includes a Confederate emblem.

The removal of the flag in one of the breakaway Southern states that fought in the 1860’s American Civil War follows the death of George Floyd, a man killed while in police custody in Minnesota. His death has sparked nationwide protests and triggered demands from some for the removal of statues of Confederate leaders, Christopher Columbus and others.