Arkansas doesn't fly the Confederate flag at its statehouse, but the nationwide controversy about its use is touching this Southern state.
When former President Bill Clinton was governor of Arkansas, he signed a bill that described the
state flag, and, according to The Daily Caller, its description said, "The blue star above the word 'ARKANSAS' is to commemorate the Confederate States of America."
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In addition to that star, three other stars honor the state's history, pointing to its previous ownership by
three countries, The Huffington Post said.
In Arkansas, several neo-Confederate groups are continuing to fly the Confederate flag proudly and urging supporters to attend open rallies across the state in the wake of the
national outcry, the Arkansas Times reported.
Their enthusiasm comes after the Fort Smith School Board voted unanimously on a motion to banish the "Rebel" mascot at Southside High School and its "Dixie"
fight song, 5 News reported. A student who graduated from the school in 1981 told the station that she remembered when the school flew a Confederate flag on campus.
"I feel like maybe it is time to get rid of it," she said. "[For] some people it does bring bad memories of a bad time in our history. I think it would be just probably better."
Parades of hundreds of people have ridden across the state in events called "Rebel Rides" showing support
of the Confederate flag, Breitbart reported.
Confederate flag controversies aren't new to Arkansas. In 2011, after the mayor of Marshall flew the Confederate flag on city hall to celebrate Robert E. Lee's birthday, there was such an uproar of disapproval that the city banned the Confederate flag from any
city properties, Fox News reported at the time.
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