The presence of the Confederate Battle Flag as a component of the 1894 flag is offensive to many, not representative of all Mississippians, and perpetuates negative stereotypes of our state. Regardless of its origins, and despite some opinions that the emblem honors history and heritage, the reality is the battle flag has become a global symbol of prejudice and hatred.

Mississippi Economic Council feels strongly that adoption of a new flag is a timely and high profile action that would improve

Mississippi's image, advance a new narrative about our state, and set the stage to enhance economic opportunities and improve quality of life in a fair and inclusive manner for every Mississippian.

The current flag is harmful to Mississippi's image and reputation for those outside our state and is hurtful to many fellow Mississippians. Mississippi Economic Council encourages and supports state leaders to take action to change the flag.

IT’S TIMEfor a state flag that moves Mississippi forward and unifies Mississippians. The Mississippi Economic Council joins with Mississippi business and industry to urge state leaders to make positive change

that will help inspire future economic growth and open doors for more jobs. It’s time.

William YatesPRESIDENT & CEO

W. G. Yates & Sons Construction Co.

PRESIDENTTherizo Foundation

Erin Smith

PRESIDENT & CEOKeystone Specialty Pharmacy

Jeffrey Clark

PRESIDENT & CEOMississippi Export Railroad

Katie C. Luce

CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARDCommunity Development Foundation

Tollie White

PRESIDENT & CEORenasant Bank

Mitch Waycaster

Ashley EdwardsPRESIDENT & CEO

Gulf Coast Business Council

PRESIDENT & CEOAnderCorp

Roy Anderson III

PRESIDENT & COOBeau Rivage & Gold Strike

Travis Lunn

PRESIDENT & CEOCooperative Energy

Jeff Bowman

PRESIDENT & CEODelta Health Alliance

Karen Matthews

OWNERJacobs Properties

William O Jacobs

CHAIRMAN & CEOTrustmark Corporation

Jerry Host

OWNERDelta Dairy

Suzette Matthews

SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT AND GENERAL MANAGERHarrah’s Gulf Coast

Jonathan Jones

PRESIDENT & CEOB B Concrete CO INC

David Brevard

EXECUTIVE DIRECTORWashington CountyEconomic Alliance

William Coppage

REALTORMartin O’Neal & Associates

Jessica CrosbyCHAIRMAN

Merchants & Marine Bank

Royce Cumbest PRESIDENTLaw Office of Elise

Epperson Deano

Elise Deano

PRESIDENTAT&T

Mayo Flynt

MANAGING MEMBERGalloway Chandler McKinney

Brandt Galloway

PRESIDENT-MISSISSIPPI DIVISIONAtmos Energy

David Gates

VP OF MANUFACTURINGNissan North America

Erik Fields

PRESIDENT & CEOEntergy Mississippi

Haley Fisackerly

DIRECTORLifeShare Foundation

Matthew Holleman

CEOPlanters Bank

Alan Hargett

PRESIDENTGraham Roofing Incorporated

Christee HolbrookPRESIDENT

Delta Council

Paul HollisOWNER

Park Heights Restaurant

Blair Hughes

CO-FOUNDERLegacy Business League

Angie JuzangPARTNER

Burr Forman LLP

John LassiterVICE PRESIDENT, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENTOxford-Lafayette County Economic

Development Foundation

Allen Kurr

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICERMulticraft International

Andrew MallinsonREGIONAL OPERATIONS MANAGER

Drax Biomass

Brad Mayhew

CHIEF OPERATING OFFICERMississippi Economic Council

Cathy Northington

Scott WallerPRESIDENT & CEO

Mississippi Economic CouncilCHAIRMAN

R.W. Reed Co.

Jack Reed, Jr.

Greater Jackson Chamber Partnership

PRESIDENT & CEOJeff Rent

To see other supporters and sign up to join this historic initiative, visit msmec.com/its-time.

MISSISSIPPI ECONOMIC COUNCIL BOARD OF DIRECTORS

PRESIDENT & CEOThe Peoples Bank

Chevis Swetman

Anthony WilsonPRESIDENT & CEOMississippi Power

CHAIRMAN & CEOBancorpSouth

Dan Rollins

CEOThomasson Company

Patricia Thomasson

PRESIDENT & CEOMcCarty Architects

Kurt Shettles

OWNERPremium Productions

Allen Pegues

GENERAL MANAGERToyota of Brookhaven

Prentiss Smith

CFOBarnes Crossing Auto Group

Andrew Warmath

PRESIDENT & CEOMississippi Aquarium

Kurt Allen

PRESIDENT & CEOWade Incorporated

Wade Litton

EXECUTIVE DIRECTORKnight Nonprofit Center

Shelby Fox

PRESIDENTIvey Mechanical Company

Denny Terrell

PRESIDENTYoungWilliams

Rob WellsDIRECTOR OF PROGRAMMING

W.K. Kellogg Foundation

Rhea Williams-Bishop

CEOAgracel, Inc.

Jack SchultzCHAIRMAN & CEO

Sanderson Farms, Inc.

Joe Sanderson

SECRETARY/TREASURERGresham Petroleum

Thomas Gresham

CEOCSPIRE

Hu Meena

PRESIDENT & CEOBankPlus

William Ray

PRESIDENT & CEOHancock Whitney

John Hairston

CEOMS Gulf Coast Chamber

of Commerce

Adele Lyons

VP & GENERAL MANAGERHunter Douglas

Mike Robinson

EXECUTIVE DIRECTORMonroe County Chamber

of Commerce

Chelsea Baulch

PRESIDENTMangia Bene Restaurant

Management Group

Jeff Good

OWNERShiflett Properties LLC

Stacy Sneed

PRESIDENT & CEOGoodwill South Mississippi

Richmond Vincent

MANAGERPruet Companies

William James

PRESIDENTofficePRO

John Mercier

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICERMINA-CT, Inc.

Augustus CollinsVICE PRESIDENT & CFO

Corinth Coca-Cola Bottling

T. Martin WilliamsPRESIDENT & CEO

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Mississippi

Carol PigottCHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD & PRESIDENT

The Taylor Group of Companies, Inc.

William A. “Lex” Taylor, IIIEXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENTAND PRESIDENT

Ingalls Shipbuilding

Brian Cuccias

DIRECTORErgon, Inc.

William Lampton

PRESIDENTToyota Motor North America

Sean Suggs

PLANT MANAGERKimberly-Clark Corporation

Vince Overholt

PARTNERAdams and Reese LLP

Phil Buffington

MANAGING PARTNERGibbs Travis, PLLC

Robert GibbsEXECUTIVE PARTNER

Horne LLP

Joey Havens

CEOGolden Triangle Development LINK

Joe Max Higgins

PUBLISHERThe Leland Progress

Stephanie Patten

PRINCIPALStateStreet Group, L.L.C.

Kane Ditto

PROJECT MANAGERThe Alliance

GT McCullough

SHAREHOLDERWise Carter Child & Caraway PA

Doug Levanway

FIRM CHAIRButler Snow LLP

Christopher Maddux

CEOTaggart, Rimes & Graham PLLC

Andy Taggart

PRESIDENT & CEOEast Mississippi

Business Development

Bill Hannah

PRESIDENTDelta Lodging

Suresh Chawla

PARTNERButler Snow LLP

Alveno Castilla

PRESIDENT & CEOStructural Steel Services, Inc.

Tommy Dulaney

REFINERY GENERAL MANAGERChevron Products Company

Chris Cavote

OWNERDeviney Construction Company, Inc.

Bruce Deviney

BrookhavenWilliam Sones

PARTNERBalch and Bingham LLP

Ricky J. Cox