Florida Senator Lauren Book (D) reintroduced legislation that would eliminate Florida's recognition of Confederate holidays. As well, it would repeal provisions penalizing the destruction and damage done to the Confederate flag. The Sunshine State is one of five states that have Confederate Memorial Day as a national holiday.
In a statement, the Florida lawmaker commented that Florida “must underscore diversity and undercut tributes to Confederacy, which upheld the institution of slavery.” She added that “with the hate and divisiveness we’re seeing today, it is more important than ever to condemn racism and reaffirm that we are indeed ‘one nation, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all’ – not just some.”
According to Florida law, the state recognizes Confederate Memorial Day on April 26th as a state-sanctioned holiday. Also recognized are the birthdays of Confederate President Jefferson Davis on June 3rd and Confederate General Robert E. Lee on January 19th.
After initially filing the legislation in 2017 as a result of the Charlottesville rally, she is again reintroducing the legislation after the January 6th storming of the Capitol where several insurrectionists were seen waving the Confederate flags within the Capitol.
