No Apologies: Confederate State Flag Likely to Fly Over Bicentennial Bonanza

JACKSON — State leaders kicked off Mississippi's bicentennial celebration at the Capitol on Tuesday, announcing several events around Mississippi as well as grants for communities to apply for in order to host events in honor of the state's 200th year. The state is not, however, likely to change the Mississippi flag in time for the big birthday on Dec. 10, 2017.

"There's a lot of things about our state and history that we're proud of and some things that we're not; some things we've done well, and some things we have not, but overall, Mississippians are a hardy group of people and we continue to move forward and make Mississippi a great place to live and to work," House Speaker Philip Gunn, R-Clinton, said at the Capitol Tuesday.

The Legislature set aside $500,000 for bicentennial celebrations in communities, and communities are encouraged to apply for $10,000 grants through the Mississippi Humanities Council to host bicentennial celebrations that relate to Mississippi history, contemporary culture or the bicentennial itself. The grant deadline is through Nov. 1 or until the funds are gone.

Lt. Gov. Tate Reeves, also a Republican, said Oxford, Jackson and Gulfport would host large celebrations. He also repeated a controversial phrase he uses often—that Mississippians should "stop apologizing," presumably for our brutal civil-rights past.

Read more: http://www.jacksonfreepress.com/news/2017/jan/05/no-apologies-confederate-state-flag-likely-fly-ove/