JACKSON, Miss. — A city on the Mississippi Gulf Coast is getting both support and backlash over the mayor’s decision to stop flying the state flag because it includes the Confederate battle emblem.

People packed a Biloxi City Council meeting Tuesday to discuss the flag, and photos from news outlets showed that several carried state flags on sticks or poles, while some others held signs with the slogan, ‘‘1 Flag for All.’’

Mayor Andrew Gilich ordered the banner removed from display at city buildings in late April, saying he wants all tourists to feel welcome. With sandy beaches, seafood restaurants, several casinos, and a minor league baseball stadium, Biloxi attracts about 5.7 million visitors a year.

Biloxi is home to an Air Force base and is a diverse city, with a population that’s about 68 percent white, 20 percent black, and 4 percent Asian.

Associated Press