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JACKSON, Miss. (AP) — The Latest on universities removing the Mississippi state flag (all times local):
3:15 p.m.
Gov. Phil Bryant says state universities that removed Mississippi's Confederate-themed flag are teaching disrespect for state law by taking it down.
He said Tuesday he disagrees with decisions by Mississippi State University and the Mississippi University for Women over the summer to stop publicly flying the flag.
Bryant reiterated his position that voters should get another chance to decide whether Mississippi changes its 1894 flag.
The Republican cited a state law that calls for Mississippi's flag to "receive all of the respect and ceremonious etiquette given the American flag" if displayed. The law doesn't require public agencies to fly the flag.
Mississippi's flag has been criticized as a symbol of racial oppression. Voters strongly supported keeping it in 2001.
Delta State University is the only one of Mississippi's eight public universities still flying the banner.
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1 p.m.
Seven of Mississippi's eight public universities have now stopped flying the state flag that prominently features the Confederate battle emblem.
Mississippi University for Women President Jim Borsig says his school removed the only pole flying Mississippi's state flag in July as part of a construction project.
Mississippi State University also confirmed Tuesday that it removed state flags from four locations over the summer.
The state's flag has been criticized as a symbol of racial oppression. Voters overwhelmingly supported keeping it in 2001.
Borsig says he was willing to make the move after campus groups had sustained discussions in the last school year. He also cites the 50th anniversary of the university's integration as a factor.
Delta State University is the only public Mississippi university still flying the flag.
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11 a.m.
Another public university in Mississippi has stopped flying the state flag that prominently features the Confederate battle emblem.
Mississippi State University becomes the sixth of the state's eight universities to do so.
University spokesman Sid Salter said Tuesday that President Mark Keenum approved deans' plans to remove the flag from most parts of the Starkville campus. It has been replaced with larger American flags.
Mississippi's Confederate-themed flag has been criticized as a symbol of racial oppression. State voters overwhelmingly supported keeping it in 2001.
Salter didn't immediately say how many flags were removed or when. He said Mississippi's flag remains part of a 50-state display in a cafeteria.
The University of Mississippi and the University of Southern Mississippi removed state flags last year. Three historically black universities removed them earlier.
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