Embattled Mississippi Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith remains under fire for her support of Confederate causes in her runoff battle against Democrat Mike Espy.
Several weeks ago, Hyde-Smith, speaking about a supporter of hers, said, “If he invited me to a public hanging, I’d be on the front row.” She has since said that she was merely using, “an exaggerated expression of regard.”
Lynching was popular pastime in Mississippi from the late 1800s until about 1950. 654 black people were lynched in Mississippi during that time frame.
The comment has led to further scrutiny of the candidate, unveiling other questionable incidents from Hyde-Smith, including posing with confederate artifacts.
While a State Senator, she cosponsored legislation to honor Effie Lucille Nicholson Pharr, then 92, as “the last known living ‘Real Daughter’ of the Confederacy living in Mississippi.” Pharr’s father served under Robert E. Lee.
The resolution claimed Pharr’s father, “fought to defend his homeland and contributed to the rebuilding of the country.”
Hyde-Smith also sought to rename a stretch of highway the Jefferson Davis Memorial Highway. The section of highway had been previously named for Davis, the first and only President of the Confederacy, but the name was removed after the 1930s.
In the wake of the initial lynching comment and later racist controversies around the candidate, many of her larger backers, including Wal-Mart and Major League Baseball, have asked for their contributions to be returned.
Meanwhile, President Trump has announced he will be coming to Mississippi in support of Hyde-Smith.
The runoff election will be held on the 27th of November.
Image by Cindy Hyde-Smith via Facebook.