Mississippi Governor Declares April as ‘Confederate History Month’

The Governor of Mississippi has signed a proclamation declaring April as ‘Confederate History Month’ in his state.

Phil Bryant’s proclamation, which he signed on February 10, was posted to the Mississippi Sons of Confederate Veterans website but not to the governor’s site.

He signed it days before legislators killed bills that would have proposed removing the Confederate battle emblem from the 122-year-old state flag.

Bryant spokesman Clay Chandler said previous governors, Democrat and Republican, have issued similar proclamations for Confederate Heritage Month.

‘Gov. Bryant believes Mississippi’s history deserves study and reflection, no matter how unpleasant or complicated parts of it may be,’ Chandler said. ‘Like the proclamation says, gaining insight from our mistakes and successes will help us move forward.’

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Governors of some other Southern states have issued similar proclamations in the past. Georgia law designates each April as Confederate History and Heritage month.

Greg Stewart is a Sons of Confederate Veterans member and executive director of Beavoir, the beachside mansion in Biloxi, Mississippi, that was the last home of Confederate president Jefferson Davis.

He said it’s a long tradition for Mississippi governors to proclaim Confederate Heritage Month.

‘In my memory, none of them have ever hesitated to,’ Stewart said Thursday.

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