State lawmaker sponsoring Confederate flag legislation

A Missouri state representative will sponsor a bill banning the display of the Confederate battle flag on state and government-funded buildings and grounds.

Joshua Peters, a Democratic representative from St. Louis City, says, “Current state law does not bar the flying of the Confederate flag on government-funded property. We need to make it clear that the state of Missouri will not subject its citizens, or visitors, to a symbol of oppression, hatred, and racial intolerance.”

Peters’ new legislation would prevent the Confederate flag from flying at the Confederate Memorial Historic Site in Higginsville, Missouri.

The flag was removed from the site in 2003 by Gov. Bob Holden. Two years later, Gov. Matt Blunt ordered the battle flag to be flown on Confederate Memorial Day, June 7.

“Modern reproduction Confederate flags do not need to be flown or displayed at publicly owned and taxpayer-supported sites, nor trotted out by state employees in honor of a separate Confederate Memorial Day,” stated Peters.

The representative says his state law would prevent future governors from changing the law.

Peters also endorses a proposed name change of Confederate Drive in Forest Park by the city of St. Louis and supports a proposal to move a Confederate memorial.

The legislative session starts Jan. 6, 2016.

You can contact Rep. Peters’ office at 573-751-7605.