United States President Donald Trump on Sunday claimed that the Confederate flag was a symbol of “pride” for people of southern US.

The Confederate flag signifies a faction of US states that revolted against plans to end slavery of African Americans, which led to the 1861-65 American Civil War. Recently, ringing bells of police brutality and institutional racism, protesters have taken over the streets across major US cities.

'It depends'

This came in the aftermath of the death of George Floyd in the hands of a police officer in Minneapolis. Since then, many such instances of police brutality have come to light in the US, and around the world.

In conversation with Fox News, the leader said that people who liked the Confederate flag need not be racist, even though the flag largely symbolises white supremacy and slavery. It is also used by many hate crime groups such as the Ku Klux Klan.&nbsp;He said, "It depends on who you're talking about, when you're talking about”.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/joe-biden-not-competent-to-lead-united-states-hes-mentally-shot-donald-trump-314508" hreflang="en">Joe Biden ‘not competent’ to lead United States, he’s mentally shot’: Donald Trump</a>

”When people proudly had their Confederate flags they're not talking about racism. They love their flag, it represents the South. They like the South ... I say it's freedom of many things, but it's freedom of speech”, he added.

This comes at a time when protesters are tearing down the remnants of Confederate legacy across the country, including statues, which was recently outlawed by Trump, causing a series of arrests in Portland on Sunday.

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'Freedom of speech'?

Besides claiming it qualifies as “freedom as speech”, in 2017 Trump was critical of people taking down Confederate statues, and claimed that there were “very fine people on both sides”.

NASCAR banned the flag earlier, which drew ire from the president.

Recently, US lawmakers including Republicans had initiated an amendment to remove the names of Confederate generals from US military bases within a year. Trump recently promised to veto the “National Defense Authorization Act”, saying “I’m not gonna go changing”.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/im-not-losing-donald-trump-refuses-to-commit-to-election-results-if-defeated-314500" hreflang="en">I'm not losing: Donald Trump refuses to commit to election results if defeated</a>

"We won World Wars out of these, out of these military bases, no I'm not gonna go changing. I'm not gonna go changing," he said.

He further said that similarly, the Black Lives Matter movement did not offend him, for it also represented freedom of speech. "I’m not offended either by Black Lives Matter. That’s freedom of speech," Trump said.

Many fear that Trump is disillusioning Republican leaders with his tactics. Recently, former Secretary of State Colin Powell, endorsed Democrat Joe Biden, while claiming that the Confederate flag represents “something that was never the USA”.

"It was the Confederate States of America. They were not part of us and this is not the time to keep demonstrating who they were and what they were back then," Powell, the black Republican leader said.

“We have one flag and only one flag only”, he added.

United States President Donald Trump on Sunday claimed that the Confederate flag was a symbol of “pride” for people of southern US. The Confederate flag signifies a faction of US states that revolted against plans to end slavery of African Americans, which led to the 1861-65 American Civil War.

United States President Donald Trump on Sunday claimed that the Confederate flag was a symbol of “pride” for people of southern US. The Confederate flag signifies a faction of US states that revolted against plans to end slavery of African Americans, which led to the 1861-65 American Civil War. Recently, ringing bells of police brutality and institutional racism, protesters have taken over the streets across major US cities. 'It depends' This came in the aftermath of the death of George Floyd in the hands of a police officer in Minneapolis. Since then, many such instances of police brutality have come to light in the US, and around the world. In conversation with Fox News, the leader said that people who liked the Confederate flag need not be racist, even though the flag largely symbolises white supremacy and slavery. It is also used by many hate crime groups such as the Ku Klux Klan. He said, "It depends on who you're talking about, when you're talking about”. Also read: Joe Biden ‘not competent’ to lead United States, he’s mentally shot’: Donald Trump ”When people proudly had their Confederate flags they're not talking about racism. They love their flag, it represents the South. They like the South ... I say it's freedom of many things, but it's freedom of speech”, he added. This comes at a time when protesters are tearing down the remnants of Confederate legacy across the country, including statues, which was recently outlawed by Trump, causing a series of arrests in Portland on Sunday. 'Freedom of speech'? Besides claiming it qualifies as “freedom as speech”, in 2017 Trump was critical of people taking down Confederate statues, and claimed that there were “very fine people on both sides”. NASCAR banned the flag earlier, which drew ire from the president. Recently, US lawmakers including Republicans had initiated an amendment to remove the names of Confederate generals from US military bases within a year. Trump recently promised to veto the “National Defense Authorization Act”, saying “I’m not gonna go changing”. Also read: I'm not losing: Donald Trump refuses to commit to election results if defeated "We won World Wars out of these, out of these military bases, no I'm not gonna go changing. I'm not gonna go changing," he said. He further said that similarly, the Black Lives Matter movement did not offend him, for it also represented freedom of speech. "I’m not offended either by Black Lives Matter. That’s freedom of speech," Trump said. Many fear that Trump is disillusioning Republican leaders with his tactics. Recently, former Secretary of State Colin Powell, endorsed Democrat Joe Biden, while claiming that the Confederate flag represents “something that was never the USA”. "It was the Confederate States of America. They were not part of us and this is not the time to keep demonstrating who they were and what they were back then," Powell, the black Republican leader said. “We have one flag and only one flag only”, he added.

Confederate flags not about 'racism', but about 'freedom of speech': Donald Trump

Amid rising protest against the racism faced by the African-American community in the US, several institutions and organisations are doing their best to show solidarity with the 'Black Lives Matter' campaign.

In such an attempt, the state of Mississippi might change or remove the confederate symbol from its flag. Lawmakers are getting ready to cast vote to pass a bill to remove the Confederate battle emblem from the state flag.

Tate Reeves, the 65th Governor of Mississippi, on Saturday said he is willing to sign a bill to change the flag if the Legislature passes one. This is coming after he previously said he would not veto a bill.

"The legislature has been deadlocked for days as it considers a new state flag. The argument over the 1894 flag has become as divisive as the flag itself and it’s time to end it," he tweeted.

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
The legislature has been deadlocked for days as it considers a new state flag. The argument over the 1894 flag has become as divisive as the flag itself and it’s time to end it. 
If they send me a bill this weekend, I will sign it. <a href="https://t.co/bf3vyzuObt">pic.twitter.com/bf3vyzuObt</a>
— Tate Reeves (@tatereeves) <a href="https://twitter.com/tatereeves/status/1276883982974627840?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 27, 2020</a></blockquote>
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The problem that arises is that the&nbsp;Mississippi's annual legislative session is almost over. As it takes two-thirds majority of the House and Senate to consider a bill after the deadline has passed, the leaders and lawmakers are working their way to secure these majorities.

First, the lawmakers will have to secure a majority, and then they have to secure a majority to pass it to the Governor. The whole process, which could take anything between one to three days, is underway right now.

The state of Mississippi is the only one in the US which has a confederate symbol in its flag now. The symbol has been a part of the flag since 1894, when white supremacists added it to the flag as a silent protests against the rise in political power of the African-American community post the Civil War.

Amid rising protest against the racism faced by the African-American community in the US, several institutions and organisations are doing their best to show solidarity with the 'Black Lives Matter' campaign.

Amid rising protest against the racism faced by the African-American community in the US, several institutions and organisations are doing their best to show solidarity with the 'Black Lives Matter' campaign. In such an attempt, the state of Mississippi might change or remove the confederate symbol from its flag. Lawmakers are getting ready to cast vote to pass a bill to remove the Confederate battle emblem from the state flag. Tate Reeves, the 65th Governor of Mississippi, on Saturday said he is willing to sign a bill to change the flag if the Legislature passes one. This is coming after he previously said he would not veto a bill. "The legislature has been deadlocked for days as it considers a new state flag. The argument over the 1894 flag has become as divisive as the flag itself and it’s time to end it," he tweeted. The legislature has been deadlocked for days as it considers a new state flag. The argument over the 1894 flag has become as divisive as the flag itself and it’s time to end it. If they send me a bill this weekend, I will sign it. pic.twitter.com/bf3vyzuObt — Tate Reeves (@tatereeves) June 27, 2020 × The problem that arises is that the Mississippi's annual legislative session is almost over. As it takes two-thirds majority of the House and Senate to consider a bill after the deadline has passed, the leaders and lawmakers are working their way to secure these majorities. First, the lawmakers will have to secure a majority, and then they have to secure a majority to pass it to the Governor. The whole process, which could take anything between one to three days, is underway right now. The state of Mississippi is the only one in the US which has a confederate symbol in its flag now. The symbol has been a part of the flag since 1894, when white supremacists added it to the flag as a silent protests against the rise in political power of the African-American community post the Civil War.

Mississippi gears up to remove Confederate symbol from state flag

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Confederate flags not about 'racism', but about 'freedom of speech': Donald Trump

Mississippi gears up to remove Confederate symbol from state flag