MS Gov. Who Has Done Little To Combat COVID-19 Makes April Confederate Heritage Month

Tate Reeves, who became the Governor of Mississippi in , has been in the news quite a bit the last few weeks. The coverage, however, has largely been negative though, as he’s received heavy criticism for his response to the COVID-19 crisis.

Reeves eventually did issue a shelter in place order for Mississippi. He’s been busy on other projects too. According to the Jackson Free Press, the governor recently made April “Confederate Heritage Month” in the state of Mississippi.

A proclamation signed by Reeves read:

“WHEREAS, State law declares the the last Monday of April as Confederate Memorial Day, a legal holiday to honor those who served the Confederacy, and WHEREAS, as we honor all who lost their lives in this war, it is important for all Americans to reflect upon our nation’s past.”

Many of the state’s mayors had taken issue with Reeve’s delay in acting on the coronavirus. The most stinging criticism came from Tupelo’s mayor Jason Shelton.

Shelton said in a strongly worded statement, “From the beginning of this crisis until today, I have been waiting on the governor of the state of Mississippi to lead. He has abdicated that leadership role in a state of emergency, and we will no longer wait in Tupelo.”

Reeves eventually relented and gave a shelter in place order for the state April 1st.