NATCHEZ — A petition suggesting Natchez secede from Mississippi has gained more than 500 signatures, but organizers say the effort aims to simply raise awareness, not an actual secession.

Natchez resident Casey Ann Hughes started the petition in protest of the state Legislature passing House Bill 1523, the “Freedom of Conscience” bill that supporters say protects religious liberty, but Hughes and other opponents say opens the door for discrimination.

The answer, the petition says, is to leave Mississippi and join the state of Louisiana instead.

Hughes said she began the petition on April Fools’ Day, but was only partly joking.

“I think a lot of people would be happy to secede from Mississippi, but that’s obviously not going to happen,” Hughes said. “The idea of it is to pressure the governor as to what a dumb idea that bill is.”

She described the petition as an educational opportunity, and said she got the idea from a letter to the editor published March 31 in The Natchez Democrat authored by Baton Rouge resident and Natchez native Patrick Mulhearn, which invited the city to join Louisiana.

“I’m quite certain our governor will do the wrong thing regardless, but we’re getting the message out and having a good time,” Hughes said. “So far, having a good time is not against the law yet in Mississippi.”

Many of the signers list their place of residence as Natchez, and commented on why they support secession.

Natchez resident Chesney Doyle said she signed the petition in hopes of distinguishing Natchez as a multi-cultural, accepting place for travelers.

“I’m signing in protest of the Mississippi Legislature’s support of the offensive and unconstitutional religious freedom bill,” Doyle wrote.

Ginny Benoist also signed the petition and left a comment referencing “First They Came,” a poem by Holocaust survivor Martin Niemöller.

“I think people need to think long and hard,” Benoist said. “I wouldn’t sign that petition if I did not truly believe in that.”

Other signers of the petition are from Louisiana or other areas of the state, and lend their support in protest of the bill.

Natchez Mayor Butch Brown said the city wouldn’t be leaving the state anytime soon.

“I would think the governor will probably study long and hard about signing that piece of legislation,” Brown said. “And he doesn’t have to veto it. After 10 days, it just goes away. If I were governor, I would not veto it — and I wouldn’t sign it.”

Not only is the city not going to secede from Mississippi, but it also won’t be taking down the state flag from its government buildings, which the Adams County Board of Supervisors voted to do Monday.

“I endorse the change (in the flag), it’s probably time for the change,” Brown said. “But as long as it’s the state flag and I’m mayor of this city, it will fly and stand. It’s too valuable of an asset to get grants and funds. I don’t want to make anyone in (the state government) mad at us.”

The petition to secede can be found at https://www.change.org/p/mississippi-governor-the-city-of-natchez-would-like-to-secede-from-mississippi-and-become-part-of-louisiana