City of Gulfport votes to remove state flag from city buildings

A new flag now flies over city buildings after the Gulfport City Council voted unanimously today to remove the Mississippi state flag from city officers.

Judge albert fountain.- - a new flag now flies over city- buildings after the gulfport- city council voted unanimously- today to remove - the mississippi state flag from- city offices.

- news 25's grant chighizola has- reactions from both sides of th- debate.

- - standup:- "following a landmark vote from the gulfport city council, the- magnolia flag now - flies at gulfport city hall."

After public debate, all seven- members of the gulfport city- council joined together to- - - - approve a resolution proposed b- councilmember truck casey urgin- the state - legislature to adopt a new stat- flag, while removing the- current state flag from all cit- - - - offices.

Sot-truck casey: ward - councilmember - " i pray that it all works out and that from today forward, we- all work together to make - gulfport and mississippi a- better place to live."

Residents of the state's second- largest city had varied opinion- - - - on the outcome.

- sot-jeffrey hulum iii: supporte- city's resolution - "gulfport just took a step out on faith, and say we don't worr- about the people to - - - - the left or to our right, to th- north or to the south, we're- going to be the change agent fo- the state of mississippi."

Sot-wallace mason: against- city's resolution "the flag is not about racism, it's a flag.- it represents mississippi, it - has since 1894.

In- this day and time, politicians- are taking the vote away from - the people."

Members of the council say this- vote is about maintaining unity- and welcoming atmosphere as a - city.

- sot-ron roland: gulfport city - council "we have decided that i we want to move forward as a- city, and want to - - - - welcome all people to come to - this city, whether it be to - visit, to live, to retire here,- all people who come to this - city, that this flag that we- - - - have should represent us all."

With the city's decision ,- supporters and opponents of - the current state flag believe- there's still more work - to be done.

- sot-wallace mason - "i'm going to advocate for the flag, i'm going to advocate for- the monument that they're - already talking about taking- down at the harrison county - courthouse."

Sot jeffery hulum, iii- "anything that's symbolic or symbolism to racism, supression- or aggression, is going - to be removed so everyone can - feel welcome."

At gulfport city hall, grant- chighizola, news