2020 ballot initiatives: States weigh in on legalizing drugs, race discrimination, new state flag

4.  Mississippi votes to adopt new state flag

After retiring its state flag containing the Confederate emblem in the wake of George Floyd’s death, a Mississippi commission that was assembled to oversee the design for a new flag voted 8-1 in favor of a new state flag emblazoned with the words “In God We Trust.”

Before the “In God We Trust” flag could become the official state flag, voters had to give it their seal of approval. On Tuesday, 71.8% of Mississippi voters supported the adoption of the new state flag, which was designed by Rocky Vaughan.

Originally known as “The New Magnolia Flag,” the “In God We Trust Flag” is “anchored in the center field by a clean and modern magnolia blossom, a symbol long-used to represent our state and the hospitality of our citizens,” according to the Mississippi Department of Archives & History. Mississippi’s nickname is the Magnolia State.

The flag contains a circle of 20 stars designed to highlight Mississippi’s status as the 20th state admitted to the Union. Mississippi was admitted to the Union on Dec. 10, 1817.

The flag features the color blue to represent “vigilance, justice, (and) perseverance,” bands of red to signify “hardiness and valor” and gold lines and a gold stamen to pay tribute to “the rich cultural history of Mississippi, specifically the visual arts, literature, music, and performing arts.”