Southeastern Conference commissioner Greg Sankey said on Thursday that if Mississippi doesn’t change its Confederate-themed state flag the conference will consider not hosting championships events in the state.
“In the event there is no change, there will be consideration of precluding Southeastern Conference championship events from being conducted in the State of Mississippi until the flag is changed,” Sankey said in a statement.
He further said the move is long overdue.
“It is past time for change to be made to the flag of the State of Mississippi. Our students deserve an opportunity to learn and compete in environments that are inclusive and welcoming to all.”
Since the death of George Floyd on May 25 due to police brutality, and during the anti-racism protests that are ongoing, Confederate monuments have again come into the limelight. Those in favor of removing Confederate symbols say they represent slavery. It is as important to get rid of them, they say, as it is to work toward systemic change to root out racial inequality. Several universities have said they believe the same.
The Southeastern Conference commissioner comments were supported by Mississippi State University president Mark Keenum and the university’s football coach Mike Leach, and eight public universities in the state.
“Several years ago, our universities recognized that the Mississippi state flag in its current form is divisive and chose to lower the flag on our campuses,” said the leaders of Alcorn State University; Delta State University; Jackson State University; Mississippi State University; Mississippi University for Women; Mississippi Valley State University; University of Mississippi; and University of Southern Mississippi.
