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South Florida lawmaker wants to remove 3 state holidays honoring Confederacy

Senate Democratic leader Lauren Book files bill to do away with recognition
State Sen. Lauren Book pledges allegiance, Jan. 11, 2022
(Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)
Phelan M. Ebenhack/AP
Florida Sen. Lauren Book, D-Plantation, stands for the Pledge of Allegiance during a legislative session Tuesday, Jan. 11, 2022, in Tallahassee, Fla.
State Sen. Lauren Book pledges allegiance, Jan. 11, 2022
Posted at 1:24 PM, Jan 19, 2022
and last updated 2022-01-19 13:24:35-05

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — A South Florida lawmaker has filed a bill that seeks to put an end to the state's Confederate holidays.

State Sen. Lauren Book, D-Plantation, introduced SB 250 last week to remove all memorializations of the Confederate States of America, including the designations of the birthdays of Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee and former U.S. Secretary of War Jefferson Davis, who also served as president of the Confederacy.

The Democratic minority leader's bill also calls for an end to "provisions prohibiting specified improper uses or mutilation of the flag or emblem of the Confederate States of America."

'God Bless Robert E. Lee' sign and Confederate flag flying above Virginia NASCAR race in September 2021
A small plane flies a Confederate flag banner around the racetrack during the NASCAR Xfinity auto race Saturday, Sept. 11, 2021, in Richmond, Va.

Among the dates that Florida recognizes as legal holidays are three Confederate designations -- Lee's birthday (Jan. 19), Confederate Memorial Day (April 26) and Davis' birthday (June 3).

Book has previously attempted to push through similar legislation, but her bills failed in committee.

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