The Fight to Change the Mississippi State Flag Reaches the Supreme Court
Image provided by Carlos Moore
In 2016, Mississippi attorney Carlos Moore filed a lawsuit seeking to have the Mississippi state flag declared an unconstitutional relic of slavery. Moore's suit claims that the flag harms him and his young daughter as it violates their constitutional right to equal protection.
After unfavorable rulings in the lower courts, Moore and his attorneys have continued to fight for what is right. Though there is no guarantee the Supreme Court will hear this case, they have ordered attorneys for Mississippi Governor Phil Bryant to submit arguments defending the flag by September 28th. Moore's attorneys see this as a positive sign that the Supreme Court may grant cert in October or November and then hear the case in April.
Emphasis on the propriety and meaning of confederate symbols has been a hot button issue over the last several years as racial tensions in the United States have taken centerstage following several violent racist incidents and the rise of a more public presence of white supremacists. Following the tragic massacre of nine people by a white supremacist in a Charleston church, lawmakers in South Carolina decided to change their flag. Mississippi now stands as the only state whose flag bears a confederate symbol.
At the Pavlov Law Firm we believe all Mississippians deserve a flag they can be proud to fly. We wish Moore and his attorneys the best and look forward to following this case closely. We encourage you to follow our blog for updates.
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