The Florida Senate's flag was removed from its pole on Monday, after senators proposed the removal of the Confederate battle flag from their official seal. The icon, visible throughout the capitol, is now in the process of being replaced with a new emblem.
"We want to make sure all the members are comfortable with the decision as to what the Senate seal's going to look like. The seal may change some more. It was good that we, at least, made the changes out of respect for those that had a concern," said Andy Gardiner, Senate President, according to the Miami Herald.
The rule approved on Monday states that the new seal would still include non-American flags such as the 1513 Spanish flag, the 1564 French flag and the 1763 flag of Great Britain, alongside the United States flag.
The Confederate flag has been the subject of much controversy lately, with many Americans having differing views on it. Some call it a symbol of the South's rich history, while others view it as offensive, a reminder of slavery, and have called for its removal from several public properties.
"I'm glad that we are taking it down and recognizing the Confederate flag for what it is. What it is, is a symbol of a time when this country went to war to keep my ancestors in slavery," said Oscar Braynon, a black Democratic Senator from Miami Gardens.
"The flags on the current seal appear to presume to represent sovereign nations. However, our research established that the Confederacy was never legally a sovereign nation," David Simmons , Florida Senate Rules Committee Chairman said, defending the proposal to adopt a new seal, according to NewsOXY.
Arthenia Joyner, the State Senate's Democratic Leader, suggested that changes to be made should be brought to the senate rules committee, similarly to how she brought her proposal asking the senate to review the seal after the shooting in church in South Carolina had been.
"Removing all the other flags, in my opinion, is not the answer. The issue is to remove this painful symbol of oppression and suppression that black people endured during the era of slavery in this country and in this state," said Arthenia Joyner, according to Newsmax.
