Reeves: If Legislature sends a bill to change the flag, ‘I will sign it’

Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves said in a social media post Saturday morning that he will sign a bill changing the state flag if lawmakers send it to him.

“The legislature has been deadlocked for days as it considers a new state flag. The argument over the 1894 flag has become as divisive as the flag itself and it’s time to end it,” Reeves wrote.

“If they send me a bill this weekend, I will sign it.”

Reportedly, there are enough votes in the Mississippi House to pass a bill to change the state flag, the last in the nation to contain Confederate symbolism, which many find offensive. Reports are mixed as to whether the Senate also has enough votes.

A vote could come as early as today.

“We should not be under any illusion that a vote in the Capitol is the end of what must be done—the job before us is to bring the state together and I intend to work night and day to do it,” Reeves continued.

“It will be harder than recovering from tornadoes, harder than historic floods, harder than agency corruption, or prison riots or the coming hurricane season—even harder than battling the Coronavirus.

“For economic prosperity and for a better future for my kids and yours, we must find a way to come together. To heal our wounds, to forgive, to resolve that the page has been turned, to trust each other. With God’s help, we can.

“No matter where you are…” Reeves concluded, “I love you, Mississippi.”