SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey the conference will consider not holding championship events in Mississippi, where Mississippi State and Ole Miss are located, unless the state changes its flag:
"I have great respect for Commissioner Greg Sankey, and I understand why he has taken this position regarding Mississippi's state flag," Mississippi State President Mark Keenum said, per of the Danny P. Smith Starkville Daily News.
of CBS News noted the Mississippi state flag is the last remaining one to display the Confederate battle emblem as part of its own design. Smith reported a bipartisan group of lawmakers started drafting legislation to change it last week.
What's more, an online calling to change the flag's design has received more than 142,000 signatures as of Thursday evening.
This is another potential move that would allow the SEC to move away from racist symbols and connections as much of the national conversation has centered on systemic racism and police brutality following the May 25 killing of George Floyd, which has sparked worldwide protests.
University of Florida President Kent Fuchs announced fans will no longer participate in the "Gator Bait" cheer that has become tradition, per Andrea Adelson of ESPN. Adelson cited the Jim Crow Museum of Racist Memorabilia at Ferris State University and noted the history behind that phrase and "alligator bait," which was also used as a racial slur.
Elsewhere, the University of Georgia Redcoat Band announcedit will no longer play "Tara's Theme" at games. The song is used in Gone With the Wind, which takes place in the antebellum South.
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