Summary of the Massachusetts State Flag Debate:
This articleโ detailsโฃ the ongoingโ debate surrounding a potential redesign of โthe โคMassachusettsโ state flag and seal. Here’s โฃa breakdownโ of โขthe key points:
The Current Flag:
* โFeatures a Native American figure, โคencircled by a blue ribbon โขdisplaying the state motto โin Latin (“Ense petit placidam sub libertate quietem” – โ”By the sword โฃwe โฃseek peace, but peace under โคliberty”).
* Theโข flag โalsoโฃ includes an image of a raised armโ holdingโ a sword.
The Controversy:
* Calls for โฃRemoval: The Boston Human Rights Commission โ(HRC), under Mayor Michelle Wu, advocates for a new flag and seal without native American imagery, arguing its insulting, demeaning, and celebrates colonial violence against Indigenous populations.
* Native American Perspectives are Divided:
* โข Kathryn Akuahaha Watson (Hassanamisco Nipmucโข Tribe): Supports keeping โขthe Native Americanโข figure on the flag. She criticizesโข the commissions tasked with redesigning the flag for deviating from their original goal of addressingโ the “harmful imagery” (the sword) while retainingโข theโ Native American figure. She believes โthe removal โขproposal lacks proper justification and โdue process, and that Native American input โฃwas insufficientโข (particularly during Pow Wow season).She emphasizes theโ ancient significance of the seal.
โ * โฃ Senator Collins: Aligns with Watson, accusing Mayor Wu of trying to “cancel” Native American depiction. โHe claims the Wu’s position is โคalienating the Native American community.
* Motto Debate: Senator โCollins also wants to keep the state motto in Latin, arguing it’s inclusive โคof speakers of languages derivedโฃ from Latin commonlyโค spoken in Massachusetts.
Key Players:
* Senator Nick Collins: Leadingโค theโ oppositionโ to the redesign, advocating for โkeeping the Native American figure and latin โคmotto.
*โข Kathryn Akuahaha Watson: โฃ Elder and โคtribal advisor supporting Collins’ position.
*โข Mayor Michelle Wu & Boston HRC: Supporting a flagโ andโข seal redesign that removes Native American imagery.
In essence, the debate centers โขon whether the current flag’s โimagery perpetuates harmโข and fails to represent modern values, or whether it holds historical significance and should beโ preserved, particularly with the support of some within the Native American community.