Pam Phillips Actions 0. The flag features a colonial broadsword held over the head of a Native American. The … The white star represents Massachusetts as one of the original thirteen states. These 3 bills proposed would need to be passed in a timely fashion, before the current Beacon Hill session ends on July 31st. The seal depicts the disembodied arm of Standish holding a … The flag depicts the state seal, which was adopted by John Hancock, Massachusetts' first governor, on Dec. 13, 1780. The Cambridge City Council Wants to Remove the State Flag from its Chamber Concerned about the imagery on the banner, they're asking the mayor to … After 36 years of delay, on January 6th, 2021, the Massachusetts legislature finally voted to change the state flag and seal. Indigenous people, advocates, and … There are multiple debates over state flags here in New England. It features a Native American warrior with someone holding a … Seal of Massachusetts. Change the Massachusetts State Flag. Effort grows to change the Massachusetts state flag, seal. History. The flag of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts is the flag of Massachusetts.It has been represented by official but limited-purpose flags since 1676, though until 1908 it had no state flag per se to represent its government.A variant of the white flag with blue seal was carried by each of the Massachusetts volunteer regiments during the Civil War alongside the National Colors. Controversy over Minuteman's sword and Native American imagery. That shield displays an image of a Native American Indian. He holds a bow in one hand and an arrow in the other. However, as outlined in the 2015 Globe article "It's no Confederate flag, but our banner is still pretty awful", there are an enormity of issues with the flag's symbolism, and, on top of those issues, the design of the flag, a "seal on a bedshe Civil advocates demanded that the imagery in the State Seal (and on the Flag of Massachusetts that displays it) had to change, due to the Colonial broadsword's placement directly above the Native American depiction's head as a "form of white supremacist imagery". For the past 34 years, former state Rep. Byron Rushing, with the support of the Massachusetts Commission on Indian Affairs, has every two years introduced legislation meant to change the flag and seal. For one, previous moves to change the flag were practically ignored in the State House for more than 30 years. Share ; Share ; Share ; By: Bob Dumas Updated: April 11, 2019 - 7:39 AM . A move to redesign the Massachusetts state flag arrived at an interesting time. The arrow is pointing downward representing peace. Massachusetts Flag. It's worth going over. It features a centered coat of arms (and shield) on a white field. As monuments and sculptures across the country come under scrutiny, Native American advocates in Massachusetts revived a push for a change of the state flag … But now 30 municipalities support the potential redesign of our state … His arrow is pointing downward - representing peace. At least the Massachusetts’ flag isn’t the state seal on a blue field: it’s the state seal on a white field. The pine tree has long been a symbol of New England, and is still on Massachusetts’ naval flag. The Massachusetts state flag. From the 18th century, Massachusetts used a white flag with its coat of arms in the center. Order This Flag Print. He holds a bow in one hand and an arrow in the other. A commission to consider a new flag has been proposed in Massachusetts for decades, and gone nowhere, writes Rich Barlow. Modern U.S. state flags as contemporarily understood date from the turn of the 20th century, when states wanted to have distinctive symbols at the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago, Illinois.Most U.S. state flags were designed and adopted between 1893 and World War I.. Change of 1971. image by Zachary Harden, 26 June 2001 Obverse of flag Before 1971 change. Even if Texas' flag is plagiarized, it's still a flag … Northampton City Council endorses call to change Massachusetts flag, seal The Massachusetts flag and seal depict a Native man holding a bow and arrow. Massachusetts State Flag. Filed Under: Boston News. DESCRIPTION: The current version of the Massachusetts flag was officially adopted is 1908, and revised in 1971. The current standard depicts, on both sides, the state seal on a white background. Great news! The movement to replace the state's motto and images on the flag seems to be growing as conversations on policing have also engulfed Beacon Hill. Most people probably don't know the symbols on the Massachusetts state flag. My variant takes as inspiration historical New England pine tree flags (based on the English Red Ensign) that were flown during the Revolutionary War. The time has come to change the white supremacist state flag and seal of Massachusetts. All my life I regarded the state flag … On the front was the blue shield with the indian holding a bow and arrow. For the last 34 years, efforts to change … Please contact the members of the Joint Committee on Rules, and urge them to do all they can to approve the long stalled legislation ( S.1877 / H.2776) to change the Mass flag and seal! And with that change the history be ... of Nipmuc Nation please give this a read and see what you may not have seen when it comes to the story of the Massachusetts State flag. We thank the legislators of Massachusetts for inviting this dialogue with the passage of this resolve. Comerford described the current images on the state flag as depicting a Native American “not even based on tribes that have a historic presence in our commonwealth.” State … BOSTON — A push is under way on Beacon Hill to change the state flag because of its depiction of a Native American man tilting his arrow towards the … Newspapers and social media feeds have been inundated with photos of flags … Capital Boston Population 1 (2010) 6,547,629; (2019 est.) In 1915 this was legally established as the state flag. In Boston last Thursday, a group of Native American activists and allies gathered at the front steps of the Massachusetts State House to push for legislation that would change the state’s controversial state seal and flag, which depicts a Native American man holding a longbow. There was a protest outside the State House, yesterday July 16th, 2020 to object the current state flag of Massachusetts and push for change. We ask you what should be on the state flag if not that? Massachusetts State Flag On a white field is a blue shield emblazoned with the image of a Native American, Massachuset. The Massachusetts state flag depicting a Native American man with a quiver pointing down and an arm over the Native American with a sword raised has been interpreted as insensitive and racist towards Native Americans. Group Calls For Change In Massachusetts State Flag, Ban On Native American Mascots At Public Schools . There is a movement underway to alter the Massachusetts state flag. In 2004 Massachusetts became the first state to legalize same-sex marriage; ... flag of Massachusetts. The mayflower is the state flower of Massachusetts. This article is more than 1 year old.. Whether the State Legislature will be inclined to change the seal and flag is uncertain. Advocates are urging lawmakers to pass legislation in a renewed call to change the Massachusetts state flag. The Massachusetts State Flag is rooted in history. Massachusetts is a peaceful state, and the Commonwealth’s current flag is not allowing us to put our best foot forward. SPRINGFIELD, MA (WGGB/WSHM) -- The current Massachusetts state flag was designed 230 years ago, but some people think it's offensive. Its roots go back to 1629, before Boston was incorporated as a city within the Massachusetts Bay Colony. Massachusetts’ Senate unanimously approved legislation Tuesday creating a special commission to review the state seal and motto, which includes a controversial depiction of a Native American man. Charlie Baker says he’s ‘open to talking’ about historical symbols amid calls to change the Mass. New legislation to Change the Mass Flag and Seal filed in the Massachusetts Senate by Senator Jason Lewis (D-Fifth Middlesex) and in the House by Representatives Lindsay Sabadosa (D-First Hampshire) and Nika C. Elugardo (D – 15th Suffolk) MA Senate Bill: S.2848. For tens of thousands of residents, however, the official seal of the state recalls memories from a troubling past. Therefore people are advocating to change the imagery that is on our state flag. We say this because there are only a few days left to ask the governor to hear our words and re-examine the symbols on this flag and the story thats told there. BOSTON (CBS) … The MA flag needs to change NOW. Any flag that's just blue with the state seal on ought to have automatically dropped to the bottom (with those that are just the state seal on a different colour background above, but only as they know there are non-blue colours). July 16, 2020 at 3:28 pm. Be inclined to change the imagery that is on our state … Massachusetts.! Massachusetts flag was officially adopted is 1908, and is still on Massachusetts ’ flag... 3 bills proposed would need to be passed in a renewed call to massachusetts state flag change the white star Massachusetts... 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