The University of Mississippi decided to pull down the state flag on Monday because the banner contained the Confederate battle emblem.

According to the Associated Press, Interim Chancellor Morris Stocks ordered campus authorities to remove the flag early morning from its post next to the school's administration building and a marble statue commemorating a Confederate soldier.

"The University of Mississippi community came to the realization years ago that the Confederate battle flag did not represent many of our core values, such as civility and respect for others," said Stocks in a statement, via the New York Times. "Since that time, we have become a stronger and better university. We join other leaders in our state who are calling for a change in the state flag."

After a protest from the school's NAACP chapter on Oct. 16, the student government came to a vote to remove the flag, 33-15 with one abstention. Many other school organizations backed the decision.

Upon meeting for several hours with university leaders, Stock signed off on the removal.

"Because the flag remains Mississippi's official banner, this was a hard decision. I understand the flag represents tradition and honor to some. But to others, the flag means that some members of the Ole Miss family are not welcomed or valued," said Stocks.

The Confederate flag has long been seen as a symbol of racism and oppression by many Americans. However in 2001, state voters decided to keep the Mississippi flag -- which contains the Confederate emblem in its upper left corner -- making it the last U.S. state to incorporate the symbol in their banner.

Mississippi House Speaker Philip Gunn has pushed to change the state flag, but has been opposed by others such as Republican Gov. Phil Bryant.

"Mississippians overwhelmingly voted in 2001 to adopt the current Mississippi state flag. I believe publicly funded institutions should respect the law as it is written today. It clearly states 'The state flag shall receive all the respect and ceremonious etiquette given the American flag,'" Bryant said in a statement.