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Mississippi governor declares April as Confederate Heritage Month

Reeves signs proclamation
Angela Williams
Digital Media Manager
Ross Adams
Investigative Reporter
Mississippi governor declares April as Confederate Heritage Month

Reeves signs proclamation

REACTION. THIS IS GETTING NOW ROSS. YEAH, THIS ALWAYS GETS A LOT OF ATTENTION EVERY YEAR THE GOVERNOR’S OFFICE SAYS FOR THE PAST 30 YEARS GOVERNORS OF BOTH POLITICAL PARTIES HAVE SIGNED THE CONFEDERATE HERITAGE MONTH PROCLAMATION THE DIFFERENCE THIS YEAR. IT’S JUST MONTHS AFTER A NEW FLAG WAS RAISED OVER THE STATE CAPITOL LAST NOVEMBER. YOU MAY REMEMBER MISSISSIPPI VOTERS OVERWHELMINGLY DECIDED TO REMOVE THE CONTROVERSIAL STATE FLAG WHICH INCLUDES THE CONFEDERATE STARS AND BARS. THE GOVERNOR SAYS HE BELIEVES WE CAN ALL LEARN FROM OUR HISTORY. AND INSIGHT FROM PAST MISTAKES AND SUCCESSES A COMMANDER WITH A GROUP CALLED THE SONS OF CONFEDERATE VETERANS AS THEY REQUESTED THE GOVERNOR SIGNED THE PROCLAMATION. SO HE COULD HAVE REFUSED TO SIGN IT. HE COULD HAVE REFUSED TO FIND IT IF YOU JUST HAVE CHILDREN. WHY DO YOU THINK HE’D SIGNED IT? PARTIALLY BECAUSE OF CONTINUING ON WITH TRADITION BUT ALSO BECAUSE I BELIEVE GOVERNOR REEVES AS HE SAID IN THE PROCLAMATION IS THEY WANT AMERICA OR SPECIFICALLY MISSISSIPPI TO LIKE LIKE THE PROCLAMATION SAYS LEARN ABOUT OUR HISTORY. WHAT DO WE WANT TO LEARN FROM THIS WHEN YOU SAY WE WANT THAT WE CAN LEARN WHAT CAN WE LEARN? AND WHEN I TALK TO THE GOVERNOR IF I WOULD HAVE CONVERSATION WITH GOING TO WHAT WE BOTH LEARN. WHAT DO YOU WANT TO TEACH YOU? WHY KIDS FIRST BLACK KID? NOW UNDERSTATE LAW THE LAST MONDAY IN APRIL IS DESIGNATED AS CONFEDERATE MEMORIAL DAY. THAT’S ABOUT A MONTH BEFORE THE NATION. HONORS. ALL ITS WAR DEAD SAINT REPRESENTATIVE. EARL BANKS SAYS CONFEDERATE SOLDIERS SHOULDN’T HAVE A SEPARATE DAY SET ASIDE FOR THEIR HONOR NOW BANK SAYS, HE’S BEEN PUSHING FOR THE LEGISLATURE TO ACTUALLY SET ASIDE A SPECIAL DAY FOR THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI TO REMEMBER THE MEN AND WOMEN WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES FIGHTING AND THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT IN MISSISSIPPI. LIVE AT THE S
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Mississippi governor declares April as Confederate Heritage Month

Reeves signs proclamation
Angela Williams
Digital Media Manager
Ross Adams
Investigative Reporter
Gov. Tate Reeves has signed a proclamation naming April as Confederate Heritage Month.The document also declares April 26 as Confederate Memorial Day in Mississippi. The proclamation recognizes the month when the American Civil War began in 1861."As we honor all who lost their lives in this war, it is important for all Americans to reflect upon our nation’s past, to gain insight from our mistakes and successes, and to come to a full understanding that the lessons learned yesterday and today will carry us through tomorrow if we carefully and earnestly strive to understand and appreciate our heritage and our opportunities which lie before us," the proclamation says. "If I were to have a conversation with the governor, 'Governor, what are we supposed to learn?'" said state Rep. Earle Banks, of Jackson. "'What are you going to teach the white kids versus the Black kids?'"Bailey Martin, a spokesperson for the governor, said by signing the proclamation, Reeves is following in the footsteps of governors in office before him."For the last 30 years, five Mississippi governors — Republicans and Democrats alike — have signed a proclamation recognizing the statutory state holiday and identifying April as Confederate Heritage Month," Martin said. "Gov. Reeves also signed the proclamation because he believes we can all learn from our history."Banks said he's been pushing to get the Mississippi Legislature to approve a special day that honors heroes of the civil rights movement who defeated the Jim Crow South."The people that fought and died in the 20s and 30s and 40s, 50s. Vernon Dahmer, Medgar Evers -- how they went and fought and stood up against the systematic ingrained racism," Banks said.Mississippi officially adopted a new state flag in January, which replaced the old flag design that featured the Confederate battle emblem.
JACKSON, Miss. —

Gov. Tate Reeves has signed a proclamation naming April as Confederate Heritage Month.

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The document also declares April 26 as Confederate Memorial Day in Mississippi. The proclamation recognizes the month when the American Civil War began in 1861.

"As we honor all who lost their lives in this war, it is important for all Americans to reflect upon our nation’s past, to gain insight from our mistakes and successes, and to come to a full understanding that the lessons learned yesterday and today will carry us through tomorrow if we carefully and earnestly strive to understand and appreciate our heritage and our opportunities which lie before us," the proclamation says.

"If I were to have a conversation with the governor, 'Governor, what are we supposed to learn?'" said state Rep. Earle Banks, of Jackson. "'What are you going to teach the white kids versus the Black kids?'"

Bailey Martin, a spokesperson for the governor, said by signing the proclamation, Reeves is following in the footsteps of governors in office before him.

"For the last 30 years, five Mississippi governors — Republicans and Democrats alike — have signed a proclamation recognizing the statutory state holiday and identifying April as Confederate Heritage Month," Martin said. "Gov. Reeves also signed the proclamation because he believes we can all learn from our history."

Banks said he's been pushing to get the Mississippi Legislature to approve a special day that honors heroes of the civil rights movement who defeated the Jim Crow South.

"The people that fought and died in the 20s and 30s and 40s, 50s. Vernon Dahmer, Medgar Evers -- how they went and fought and stood up against the systematic ingrained racism," Banks said.

Mississippi officially adopted a new state flag in January, which replaced the old flag design that featured the Confederate battle emblem.