Hayley Williams is urging lawmakers to change Mississippi’s state flag

Hayley Williams has been actively involved in the ongoing Black Lives Matter movement. Recently, she handed over her Instagram to teen activist group Teens4Equality. As well, Paramore have pledged $25,000 to the movement.

Now, Williams, alongside other musicians, is asking lawmakers in her birth state of Mississippi to change its state flag.

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Over the past few weeks, various monuments and statues of Confederate war figures, slave owners and more have been removed. Now, Williams is asking that her birth state of Mississippi change its state flag. Currently, the flag includes the Confederate emblem on it.

The Petals For Armor singer took to social media to share some details about her childhood in Meridian, Mississippi.

“I was born in Meridian, MS [and] lived there thru 2001,” she shares. “Transparently, I have some awful memories from life there, but a lot of the good ones I keep involve my black schoolmates & neighborhood friends. Those kids introduced me to black artists who shape my artistry to this day…”

i was born in meridian, ms. lived there thru 2001. transparently, i have some awful memories from life there but a lot of the good ones i keep involve my black schoolmates & neighborhood friends. those kids introduced me to black artists who shape my artistry to this day…

— hayley from Paramore ? (@yelyahwilliams) June 26, 2020

She further shares that she was aware of the racial inequality around her from a young age.

“I remember noticing racial inequalities from a very young age,” she continues. “But I certainly did not realize then that there was anything that could be done about it. I imagine even a grown-up would feel intimidated/overwhelmed to do something about it in MS. Yet tomorrow, there’s opportunity!”

i remember noticing racial inequities from a very young age but i certainly did not realize then that there was anything that could be done about it. i imagine, even a grown-up would feel intimidated/overwhelmed to do something about it in MS.

yet tomorrow, there’s opportunity!

— hayley from Paramore ? (@yelyahwilliams) June 26, 2020

Williams then urges state lawmakers to make the right change and create a new flag that is representative of all Mississippi citizens.

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“Tomorrow,” she continues. “Legislators in my birth state have a chance to take action with a big first step. So tonight, I am appealing to the Mississippi legislature to vote tomorrow (Friday, June 26) on a new flag. One that represents ALL of the citizens of MS #TakeItDownMS”

tomorrow, legislators in my birthstate have a chance to take action with a big first step…

so tonight, i am appealing to the Mississippi legislature to vote tomorrow (Friday, June 26) on a new flag, one that represents ALL of the citizens of MS.#TakeItDownMS

— hayley from Paramore ? (@yelyahwilliams) June 26, 2020

For Williams, she believes its time for the state to give support back to the Black community, a group of people she says have had an impact on her music career.

“I’m speaking on this in effort to honor the good memories I have kept from my childhood in Meridian,” she tweets. “And to (in a way that feels too small) give support back to the young black people who I know made a significant impact on my musical journey.”

i’m speaking on this in effort to honor the good memories i have kept from my childhood in Meridian and to (in a way that feels too small) give support back to the young black people who i know made a significant impact on my musical journey…

— hayley from Paramore ? (@yelyahwilliams) June 26, 2020

Williams stands alongside other musicians including Faith Hill who are urging Mississippi to change its flag. According to NBC News, lawmakers appear to have enough votes in the state legislature to make the flag change.

Mississippi is currently the last state to still fly a flag featuring a Confederate emblem. Proposals to change the flag that was adopted in 1894 have come up various times over the years. In 2001, however, 64 percent of Mississippi citizens voted in a pubic referendum to not change the flag.

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Following her series of tweets, Williams also gave special shout outs to her childhood friends Sheena and Sakara.

special shouts, though they may never see this:

Sheena- i have this memory of you drawin D’Angelo all on your papers in class bc you thought he was hot. THATS HOW I LEARNED ABOUT HIM.

Sakara- we would sing “aahaaa hush that fuss…” during recess. first time i heard OutKast ?

— hayley from Paramore ? (@yelyahwilliams) June 26, 2020

Do you think legislators will vote to change Mississippi’s state flag? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.