Mississippi’s ‘Stennis flag’ name changes
As debate about Mississippi’s state flag rages on, many residents have adopted the Stennis flag as their personal state flag. It appears on front porches, bumper stickers and is even an option on Mississippi’s license plates.
But the creator of the flag has asked that it be renamed, noting the attachment of her last name could evoke pain and discomfort.
Laurin Stennis, who first created the flag alternative six years ago, announced on social media Sunday that she is stepping away from being the name behind the flag, writing, “In a continued effort to be of service, I will be stepping away from this endeavor as I understand the hurt and potential harm my last name may cause.”
Stennis is the granddaughter of former U.S. Sen. John C. Stennis. Stennis, who died in 1995, was a staunch segregationist during a long career in Washington, though later in life he voted to reauthorize the Voting Rights Act.
The name has now been changed to the “Hospitality Flag.” Mississippi is known as the “Hospitality State.” The flag has 19 blue stars in the center on a white background, circling a larger blue star, representing Mississippi as the 20th state. Red vertical bars are on either side of the stars. Stennis previously told the Clarion Ledger the bars represent Mississippians’ “passionate differences” on the flag issue.
The fight to change the flag has drawn ire in the state from staunch opponents who point to the 2001 state election where 65% of voters elected to keep the current flag. However, current Mississippi residents 35 and younger weren’t eligible to vote in 2001.
For years, the state has flag has drawn national negative attention. Most recently, the SEC said championships will not be played in Mississippi until the flag is changed. In a step further, the NCAA said as long as the flag with the Confederate emblem flies, Mississippi will not be eligible to host any postseason event.
The Mississippi Legislature is still in session and could vote to change the flag, but doing so would require a suspension of the rules. While lawmakers in both chambers — including some top Republicans — support changing the flag, a Senate Concurrent Resolution that would allow lawmakers to take a vote on the flag appears to have stalled.
House Minority Leader Rep. Robert Johnson, Dnatchez, has previously said the flag designed by Laurin Stennis should be adopted by the Legislature, though it would be referred to as simply the Mississippi flag.
Contact Sarah Fowler at 601-961-7303 or sfowler@gannett.com.