Message from the President

Sun, 06/28/2020 - 04:54pm

Today marks a historic time, as our state leaders approved a plan to retire the current Mississippi flag and begin a process to identify a new symbol to represent our state moving forward. I am excited about what this decision could mean as an opportunity to remove barriers to advancing our state’s growth and development at national and international levels.

This opportunity to reposition our state is certainly significant. In order to truly move forward, we must ensure that careful thought and consideration inform the next steps on this historic path to build a future that represents the Mississippi that we talk about, dream about, and hope our children will one day have the opportunity to experience.

It is up to each of us, now, to take this opportunity to lead Mississippi toward a bright future. Each individual will be important in determining our level of success. This is a time for each of us to listen to one another with empathy and civility, and to build on the foundation this decision lays for us to move forward, together. If we do not, permanent positive change will continue to elude us, and we will only perpetuate the divisiveness of the past.

I firmly believe that our state flag should unite, rather than divide, Mississippians. I continue to look forward to the day in which we raise a new flag as a symbol of a new and united Mississippi.

Rodney D. Bennett, President