The 1956 State Flag
After the Brown vs. Board, ruling many southern states urged their white citizens to display acts of massive resistance against the federal mandates outlawing segregation. One of the ways the Georgia General Assembly showed their disdain for these federal regulations was by changing the state flag. Though the design of the pre-1956 flag was based on the first flag of the Confederate States of America, the 1956 flag was changed to include the Confederate battle flag, a flag that had been adopted by “hate groups” such as the KKK.
To this day there is debate on the reasoning behind the change of the flag. According to the New Georgia Encyclopedia some of the legislators favored the change to “mark the upcoming centennial of the Civil War.” However, many people believe the flag was changed to protest civil rights legislation. For example, after the flag was changed, legislator Denmark Groover said the flag would show “that we in Georgia intend to uphold what we stood for, will stand for, and will fight for.” Though denying it for many years Groover admitted toward the end of his life that anger over the Brown v. Board case was a factor in changing the flag
In 2001, Governor Roy Barnes changed the flag based on the request of many of his supporters and civil rights activists. In 2003, the people of Georgia were allowed to vote on either the 2001 or a new 2003 flag. The 2003 flag won with over 70% of the vote. This flag looked very similar to the pre-1956 flag.
To this day there is debate on the reasoning behind the change of the flag. According to the New Georgia Encyclopedia some of the legislators favored the change to “mark the upcoming centennial of the Civil War.” However, many people believe the flag was changed to protest civil rights legislation. For example, after the flag was changed, legislator Denmark Groover said the flag would show “that we in Georgia intend to uphold what we stood for, will stand for, and will fight for.” Though denying it for many years Groover admitted toward the end of his life that anger over the Brown v. Board case was a factor in changing the flag
In 2001, Governor Roy Barnes changed the flag based on the request of many of his supporters and civil rights activists. In 2003, the people of Georgia were allowed to vote on either the 2001 or a new 2003 flag. The 2003 flag won with over 70% of the vote. This flag looked very similar to the pre-1956 flag.