Bracey Harris

The Clarion-Ledger

The Mississippi state flag will no longer be featured as a part of the Avenue of the States on Philadelphia’s Broad Street erected for the Democratic National Convention.

The flag was taken down Monday afternoon by the city’s police department after a group of roughly 50 protesters sat in a roadway shouting for its removal, the Associated Press reported.

In video of the removal, cheers can be heard as the flag is taken off the lamp post.

HIGH HOPES: Mississippi delegates hope to witness history at convention

Brian Abernathy with the Philadelphia mayor’s office told the news agency that residents had complained about the flag ahead of Monday’s impromptu demonstration.

The majority of protesters had been participating in a march to support former Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders when they diverted their attention to the flag.

At least one individual attempted to pull the flag down with a rope, according to Philly Mag reporter Dan McQuade.

A NATIONAL ISSUE: Confederate flag controversy persists in U.S. Congress

Abernathy said the city will also remove another Mississippi flag featured nearby by Tuesday.

Mississippi is the only state to still feature the Confederate emblem on its flag. Efforts to change the state flag during the 2016 legislation session died in committee.

With the exception of Mississippi, the Avenue of the States features flags from 49 states, the District of Columbia and the U.S. territories.

Contact Bracey Harris at bharris2@gannett.com or 601-961-7248. Follow @braceyharris on Twitter.