Arkansas Dem introduces bill to honor Native Americans instead of Confederacy on state flag

A lawmaker in Arkansas introduced legislation on Friday to nix Confederate symbolism on the state’s flag.

State Rep. Charles Blake (D) filed a bill that would not alter the design of the flag, but would amend language in the state’s Constitution to mean a large star on the flag represents Native American nations instead, according to The Associated Press.

One of four large blue stars on the flag is meant to represent the Confederate States of America. The fourth star was introduced to the flag in 1923.

{mosads}In the flag’s current iteration, the Confederacy star is above the state’s name, while three other stars that symbolize other key elements of state history.

Blake’s bill would redesignate the star to honor contributions of the Quapaw, Osage and Caddo tribes that first inhabited the area.

The text of the proposal notes that the state’s name itself is derived from a Native American word meaning “southern place.”

Lawmakers in a number of states have pushed to remove monuments, plaques and other homages to the Confederacy. Last month, a Confederate plaque was removed from the Texas state Capitol following a bipartisan effort from state lawmakers.