Mississippi State offices are closed for Confederate Memorial Day. The holiday is meant to honor those who died in the Civil War while fighting for the southern state that tried to secede from the union. The Legislature designated the last Monday of April as the day for the observance of Confederate Memorial Day, and under the provisions of Section 3-3-7, Mississippi Code of 1972, is a legal holiday in the State of Mississippi that gives state employees the day off. However, not all agencies may be participating.
“All officers and employees of the State of Mississippi are authorized and empowered, at the discretion of the executive head of the department or agency, to close their respective offices in observance of the holiday on Monday, April 30, 2018,” said Secretary of State Delbert Hosemann in a message to state employees.
In a post to Facebook, Mississippi Rising Coalition opposed the holiday saying it is unnecessary as Memorial Day is celebrated by all states.
“We already have a holiday set aside to honor all those who died in service of our country–it’s called Memorial Day,” the post says. “Why is Mississippi spending our tax dollars yet again to venerate the Confederacy?”
Currently, Confederate Memorial Day is celebrated on April 23rd in Alabama and in Georgia and on April 30th in Mississippi.
