Mississippi governor declares April 'Confederate Heritage Month'

quote:

---

Mississippi Gov. Phil Bryant has signed a proclamation declaring the month of April "Confederate Heritage Month" in his state. The signing was first reported by the Jackson Free Press.

The proclamation does not appear on the State of Mississippi's website, the alternative weekly reports, with other proclamations, such as those about emergency inclement weather, but is posted on the website of the Sons of Confederate Veterans, which is against changing the Mississippi flag to remove the Confederate battle flag.

---

quote:

---

Clay Chandler, director of communications for Gov. Bryant, confirmed that the proclamation had been issued.

"Like his predecessors -- both Republican and Democrat -- who issued similar proclamations, 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."

The proclamation says that April is the appropriate month to honor Confederate heritage because it "is the month in which the Confederate States began and ended a four-year struggle." It adds that the state celebrates Confederate Memorial Day on April 25 to "recognize those who served in the Confederacy."

The proclamation concludes:

WHEREAS, it is important for all Americans to reflect upon our nation's past, to gain insight from our mistakes and successes, and to come to a full understanding that the lessons learned yesterday and today will carry us through tomorrow if we carefully and earnestly strive to understand and appreciate our heritage and our opportunities which lie before us:

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Phil Bryant, Governor of the State of Mississippi, hereby proclaim the month of April 2016 as

---