Arkansas lawmakers approved legislation Thursday that would replace Confederate Flag Day with Arkansas Day.
Arkansas House Majority Leader Rep. Austin McCollum, who sponsored the bill, said, “Arkansas Day shall be a day to reflect on the rich history, national treasures, diverse cultures, unmatched hospitality, shared spirit, and human resilience that make the people of this state proud to be Arkansans.”
According to the Northwest Arkansas Democrat Gazette, the vote passed in the Arkansas House with a vote of 80-7. The holiday is to be observed on the Saturday before Easter.
Confederate Flag Day started in 1957 following the state’s response to Little Rock Central High School’s desegregation. The desegregation of the high school attracted national attention. The first Black students who attended — and integrated — the high school were known as the Little Rock Nine.
In 2019, similar attempts were made to repeal one of the star’s meanings on the state’s flag, which stood for the Confederacy. Plans were made to change the meaning to honor Native Americans, but the measure was never passed, according to The Hill.
Source: Newmax
