Massachusetts Reviewing Controversial State Seal And Flag

BOSTON — For the first time, a state commission is gathering together to be tasked with reviewing and making potential changes to Massachusetts' seal, state flag, and motto.

The 19-member Special Commission Relative to the Seal and Motto of the Commonwealth is meeting virtually to discuss these items Monday.

The current emblem for the Commonwealth depicts a Native American man, with a colonist's arm above him brandishing a sword, and a Latin phrase that reads, in part, "By the sword we seek peace."

In 2020, lawmakers created the commission to investigate features of the official seal and motto that "may be unwittingly harmful."

Members of the commission include Massachusetts tribe members as well as representatives for the state commission on Indian affairs, the state historical commission, and the state cultural council, among other agencies.

October 1 is the deadline for the panel to submit a revised or entirely new design for the seal and motto. An educational program will also accompany any design.

The flag has been called a "symbol of white supremacy" by many Native American groups, as it depicts the defeat of local tribes at the hands of colonists.

This virtual meeting will be viewable to the public through a livestream that can be found on www.malegislature.gov website.