The old state flag flies for the last time, now consigned to history with the Confederacy it once honored. State Capitol, Saturday, June 27, 2020. Photo by Nick Judin
Sen. Barbara Blackmon, D-Jackson, quotes Martin Luther King Jr. before the Senate takes a final vote on the resolution. State Capitol, Saturday, June 27, 2020. Photo by Nick Judin
Lt. Gov. Delbert Hosemann lightens the mood with the press corps before a tense vote. State Capitol, Saturday, June 27, 2020. Photo by Nick Judin
Rep. Ronnie Crudup Jr., D-Jackson, says the victory is for those who came before him, like Sen. Henry Kirksey, Sen. Barbara Blackmon and Rep. Alyce Clark. State Capitol, Saturday, June 27, 2020. Photo by Nick Judin
Rep. Debra Hendricks Gibbs, D-Jackson, cannot hide her joy as the resolution allowing for a flag change passes the House. State Capitol, Saturday, June 27, 2020. Photo by Nick Judin
The Mississippi House of Representatives, packed full as the motion to change the state flag kicks off. State Capitol, Saturday, June 27, 2020. Photo by Nick Judin
The Mississippi Senate, where a much tenser battle for the future of the state flag loomed. State Capitol, Saturday, June 27, 2020. Photo by Nick Judin
Rep. Hester Jackson-McCray, D-Horn Lake, now two for two in her legislative battles, says that it’s time for a flag that to be proud of: a flag for Mississippi’s grandchildren and their children too. Photo by Nick Judin
Sen. Derrick Simmons, D-Greenville, and Sen. Brice Wiggins, R-Pascagoula, share a emotional moment after coming together to change the state flag. State Capitol, Saturday, June 27, 2020. Photo by Nick Judin
Sen. Chris McDaniel, R-Ellisville, takes a final, futile stand against the changing flag minutes before the Senate vote. State Capitol, Saturday, June 27, 2020. Photo by Nick Judin
Taylor Turnage, Calvert White and Timothy Young, three of the key Black Lives Matter Mississippi organizers whose June 6 protests kicked off the push for a new flag. State Capitol, Saturday, June 27, 2020. Photo by Nick Judin

Pictures from the Mississippi State Capitol’s Saturday deliberations over the state flag on June 27.

Mississippi native Donna Ladd and partner Todd Stauffer founded the Jackson Free Press in 2002 in the capital city. The heavily awarded local newspaper did many investigations heralded across the state and nation and served as a paper of record due to its diversity, inclusion, in-depth reporting and deep connection to readers and dedication to narrative change in and about Mississippi. In 2022, the nonprofit Mississippi Free Press, founded by Ladd and JFP Associate Publisher Kimberly Griffin in 2020, purchased the journalism assets and archives of the Jackson Free Press. A Google grant through AAN Publishers enabled Newspack's integration of the JFP archives into the Mississippi Free Press website to become part of a more searchable archive of recent Mississippi history and essential journalism.