© 2024 | Jefferson Public Radio
Southern Oregon University
1250 Siskiyou Blvd.
Ashland, OR 97520
541.552.6301 | 800.782.6191
a service of Southern Oregon University
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Mississippi Flag Comes Down At Oregon Capitol

The state flag of Mississippi is no longer flying outside the Oregon capitol. It was removed this week at the request of legislative leaders.

The Mississippi flag is the only state flag that includes the stars and bars of the Confederate battle flag. In Salem, it's been part of an outdoor display of all 50 state flags for the last decade.

Some lawmakers have been clamoring for its removal. They say the Confederate imagery is racist and has no place outside the Oregon capitol.

Legislative leaders were sympathetic to that point of view but last year said they wanted to give the state of Mississippi time to change its flag design. With no changes appearing imminent, the flag was removed this month.

The flagpole that represents the state of Mississippi is now empty.

A view of the west side of the Oregon State Capitol in Salem.
OregonDOT / Flickr
/
Flickr
File photo. The flag of Mississippi is no longer flying next to other state flags outside of the Oregon Capitol building in Salem.

Copyright 2016 Northwest News Network

Chris Lehman
Chris Lehman graduated from Temple University with a journalism degree in 1997. He landed his first job less than a month later, producing arts stories for Red River Public Radio in Shreveport, Louisiana. Three years later he headed north to DeKalb, Illinois, where he worked as a reporter and announcer for NPR–affiliate WNIJ–FM. In 2006 he headed west to become the Salem Correspondent for the Northwest News Network.