JACKSON, Miss. (AP) — A Mississippi man with a history of trying to enshrine Old South symbols in the state constitution is trying again, this time hoping to change the state song to "Dixie" and require officials to fly a Confederate battle flag outside the Capitol.
But getting a constitutional amendment on the statewide ballot can be difficult, with signatures required from more than 107,000 voters.
The proposal's sponsor, Arthur Randallson, fell short of signatures for his 2012 initiative that would've required the University of Mississippi to restore Col. Rebel as its mascot. The school retired the character about a decade ago because critics said he resembled a plantation master.
Randallson revives the Col. Reb proposal in his new initiative and adds other items, including requiring Mississippi to recognize April as Confederate Heritage Month.
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