It looks like we’ll keep the state flag a bit longer while our betters at the legislature try to educate us on “the problematic history of the state’s official emblems.”
That’s according to an article published in today’s The Boston Globe.
In 2021–caught up in the George Floyd hysteria–the legislature created the Massachusetts Seal, Flag, and Motto Advisory Commission.
That commission, consisting of ten members, was well funded and tasked with creating a new state flag.
What’s wrong with our existing flag?
According to lawmakers and activists, the sword above the Indian’s head is most likely wielded by an evil colonialist white man.
And the Latin motto–roughly translated “by the sword we seek peace, but peace only under liberty”–is equally offensive and toxic to our intelligentsia.
The flag commission was supposed to rectify things with a new state emblem by July 2025.
Alas, no flag design was inclusive enough to satisfy everyone and the deadline was again extended to December 15, 2025.
Here we are, just weeks away from the deadline, and the commission is requesting yet another extension.
There appears to be a decent amount of public input that opposes the change.
Though details and numbers were not given in the Globe article, commission members are citing “public misunderstanding” as the reason for the latest extension.
The article also cites several government officials–such as the executive director of travel and tourism, Kate Fox–who claim that we (the public) misunderstand “why the current flag is not appropriate.”
Additionally, many of Governor Healey’s political opponents have expressed their desire to keep the flag as it is. Making an unpopular change to the state’s flag may be a boon for the 2026 Republican candidates.