NATCHEZ —The Adams County Board of Supervisors voted 4-1 Monday to remove the Mississippi state flag from display at all county buildings.

The vote, following a motion by Supervisor Rickey Gray and seconded by Supervisor Angela Hutchins, came a day after dozens of local residents gathered for the One Flag for All rally in Natchez, calling for the removal of the Confederate battle emblem from the official state flag.

Gray said he was proud of the black and white community members who showed up the rally, and said it was time for Adams County to step up even if the state legislature would not.

“I think this flag divides this community,” Gray said. “When you start to do something, I think it starts at home, not at the state level.”

When casting the sole vote against the measure, Supervisor David Carter said he would like to see a petition currently seeking ballot access for an initiative to allow the residents of the state to address the issue be the deciding factor.

“I would rather see us lead from the state level and put it on that petition,” he said.

Full coverage will follow in Tuesday’s edition.