I was a Mississippian at the same time, and remember it well. The MSM predicted the old flag would be soundly rejected, but the referendum to replace it went down to defeat. In fact, about one-third of African-American voters voted to keep the existing flag.
In his remarks, Shep said something to the effect of “the confederate flag must be removed from his state.” If that’s true, he ought to talk to Andrew Cuomo, since Shep and his boy toy spend most of their time in Manhattan. He only goes back to Oxford for Ole Miss football games.
BTW, Shep left the University of Mississippi a couple of credits shy of his degree in journalism. There was an informal move about 10 years ago to waive the remaining requirements and award his bachelor’s. The proposal was soundly rejected by the journalism faculty. Of course, that was before Shep became such a flaming lib on camera. Maybe that’s been part of the ploy; prove that he’s enough of a “good liberal” to finally get his sheepskin from Ole Miss.
The late Peter Jennings had no degree.
And he only does that because New York football teams are rubbish.