BANNER PHOTO, MFA Boston to host online community celebration for Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Housing activists demonstrate for eviction protections, BPS, teachers agree on pact to reopen schools, baystatebanner.com © 1965-2020 The Bay State Banner. But now 30 municipalities support the potential redesign of … Yawu Miller is the Banner’s senior editor. The key features, the Native American man holding a longbow, a five-pointed star and the sword raised above the man’s head, came together in 1780 during the American Revolution. It is commonly known that the Puritans and Pilgrims set the stage for eventual liberty of religious belief when they fled an oppressive government to settle in the New World. The flag of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts displays, on both sides, the state coat of arms centered on a white field. Pages Businesses Automotive, Aircraft & Boat Automotive Service Oil Lube & Filter Service Valvoline Instant Oil Change Videos Happy Flag Day! The blue shield symbolizes the blue hills located in Canton and Milton, Massachusetts. MASSACHUSETTS — Flags are flying at full staff. With Florida and Minnesota, it is one of only three state flags to prominently feature a Native American in its heraldry. The Great Seal of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts contains the coat of arms of Massachusetts. The Algonquian Native Americans are the early inhabitants of Massachusetts who were mainly of the Algonquian language. The seal depicts a Native American man, a colonist’s arm brandishing a sword, and a Latin phrase that reads, in part, “By the sword we seek peace.” The bill still needs House… In June, the Mississippi state legislature voted to remove the Confederate battle emblem from the state flag. These 3 bills proposed would need to be passed in a timely fashion, before the current Beacon Hill session ends on July 31st. ... On January 11, 2021, Govenor Charlie Baker signed a bill establishing a commission to change the state flag and seal. 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 The press conference was flanked by demonstrators protesting a House bill that would extend a moratorium on evictions on one side and a “back the blue” demonstration in support of police on the other. “But we are the last state to abolish and eliminate the white supremacy represented on our flag. Gina Alkiewicz, a staff member at the North American Indian Center of Boston, speaks during a press conference last week. 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. “For 400 years, Native American voices have been silenced in this state and the people who are here trying to silence us today need to move down the street, because this is really disrespectful,” he said. Around 50 cities and towns across the commonwealth are considering resolutions to support changing the flag. Changes may be coming to the state's official flag and motto, which some are calling offensive. The seal is the problem for some. The Massachusetts State Flag is rooted in history. The state currently has three official flags: a state flag, a "naval and maritime flag" (despite it no longer having its own navy), and a governor's flag. For the last 34 years, efforts to change … Massachusetts Flag. 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. [6], The Flag (and Ensign) of New England, used by merchant ships sailing out of New England ports.[6][7]. Any flags that you save on this beta version of Flag Designer will not be visible in your account on the current version of Flag Designer. The time is now for change.”. In 1971, the earlier pine tree was replaced by the current design. Similarly, any new flags you save on the current version will not be visible in your account on this beta version. The flag features a colonial broadsword held over the head of a Native American. Posted: Jul 16, 2020 / 02:45 PM EDT / Updated: Jul 16, 2020 / … clock. July 16, 2020 at 3:28 pm. On the front was the blue shield with the indian holding a bow and arrow. 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