We will now have the sole distinction of having a Confederate battle symbol on a flag that can only further divide a diverse population Mississippi congressman Bennie Thompson Mississippi is the last US state to display prominently the Confederate emblem on its flag.
Supporters see it as a mark of southern pride.
The BBC's Stephen Sackur in Mississippi says some black groups are already talking about an economic boycott. And some businesses may think twice about investing in a state which still identifies closely with its rebel past, he says. The Confederate symbol has been adopted by some extreme right-wing and racist groups as a symbol of resistance to federal government. Mississippi Governor Ronnie Musgrove said the state should accept the results. Defiance Mississippi's only black congressman, Democrat Bennie Thompson, has refused to fly the flag in his Washington office.