You can help change the Massachusetts flag and seal.

The Campaign to Change the Mass Flag and Seal
On January 6th, 2021, the Massachusetts Legislature approved a bill to establish a Special Commission Relative to the Seal and Motto of the Commonwealth, and to invite Native leaders from the Wampanoag, Nipmuc, and Massachusett nations to sit with state legislators, historians, and other appointees on this 19-member panel. The Special Commission is charged with making recommendations for changes to the Massachusetts flag and seal, and also with making recommendations for an educational program on the history and meaning of the flag and seal.
Our voices in support of this historic process are needed now! The time has come to change the Massachusetts flag and seal.
The imagery of the Massachusetts Flag and Seal – a white hand holding a Colonial sword over the head of an Indigenous person, above a Latin motto that translates: “She Seeks by the Sword a Quiet Peace under Liberty” – is seen by many as a symbol of violence against Indigenous people, and a memorial to the violent colonization of their homelands. Finally, Native leaders of the area are being consulted about a new design for a flag and seal that may better express the ideals of peace, justice, and equality for all the people who now call the Commonwealth their home.
Share our website with your friends and contacts throughout Massachusetts.
Download our flier and distribute it at meetings, community events or gatherings.
Download the Spanish version of our flier; descargue nuestro folleto y distribúyalo en reuniones, eventos comunitarios o reuniones.
Subscribe in the footer for regular updates.
Contact your state legislators and urge them to support the work of the Special Commission, to change the flag and seal of Massachusetts.
Follow this link to find out who your state legislators are.
Support other Indigenous-backed legislation pending in the state legislature, including bills to ban the use of Native mascots in public schools in the Commonwealth, to Celebrate and Teach Native Culture and History in public schools, to Protect Native Heritage, and to Recognize the second Monday in October as Indigenous Peoples Day in Massachusetts. Send an automated letter here.
If your city or town has not yet voted to support changing the Massachusetts flag and seal, view the map below and contact us. We will let you know the steps you can take to add your city or town to that growing list.
If not, contact us and let’s work together to make that happen. Select a highlighted town or city on the map below to learn more.
Voted in favor: 2019
Government type: Open Town Meeting
Voted in favor: 2019
Government type: City Council
Voted against: 2019
Government type: Open Town Meeting
Voted in Favor: April 25th, 2022
Government type: Representative Town Meeting
Voted in Favor: 221 to 20 on May 9th, 2022
Government type: Open Town Meeting
Voted in Favor: May 2nd, 2022
Government type: Open Town Meeting
Voted in Favor: 48 - 20 on May 7th, 2022
Upcoming action: Voted in Favor
Government type: Open Town Meeting
Date of town meeting: June 6th, 2022
Voted in Favor: June 13, 2022, approximately 2-1 with 105 people in attendance.
Government type: Open Town Meeting
Voted in Favor: June 14th, 2022: One of two towns to reverse their original No Vote from 2019; the other was Bernardston
Government type: Open Town Meeting
Upcoming action: Voted in favor, 40 - 4
Government type: Open Town Meeting
Date of town meeting: June 6th
Government type: Open Town Meeting
Voted in Favor: May 16th, 2022, 43- 29
Government type: City Council
Voted unanimously in favor, 9/7/22
Government type: City Council
Help Needed: Gathering Signatures
Government type: Open Town Meeting
Voted in Favor: May 16th, 2022 - unanimously!
Upcoming Action: Voted overwhelmingly in favor
Government type: Open Town Meeting
Date of town meeting: June 6th, 2022
Upcoming action: Voted in favor, 78 - 29
Government type: Open Town Meeting
Date of town meeting: June 6th, 2022
Government type: City Council
Help Needed: to reach out to City Councilors
Upcoming Action: Resolution is on the Tuesday, May 9th, 2023 Annual Town Meeting warrant; Article #13; meeting begins at 7 pm; Ipswich High School
Government Type: Open Town Meeting
Help Needed: Attend Town Meeting; Help spread the word; Support the Resolution
Voted against: 2019
Voted in favor: 2019
Government type: Open Town Meeting
Voted in favor: 2019
Government type: Town Meeting
Voted in favor: 2019
Government type: Representative Town Meeting
Voted in favor: 2019
Government type: Open Town Meeting
Voted in favor: 2019
Government type: City Council
Voted in favor: 2019
Government type: Town Meeting
Voted in favor: 2019
Government type: Open Town Meeting
Voted in favor: 2019
Government type: Open Town Meeting
Voted in favor: 2019
Government type: Open Town Meeting
Voted in favor: 2020
Government type: Town Meeting
Voted in favor: 2019
Government type: Town Meeting
Voted in favor: 2019
Government type: Open Town Meeting
Voted in favor: 2018
Government type: Open Town Meeting
Voted in favor: 2019
Government type: Town Council
Voted in favor: 2019
Government type: Town Meeting
Voted in favor: 2019
Government type: Open Town Meeting
Voted in favor: 2019
Government type: Open Town Meeting
Voted in favor: 2019
Government type: Open Town Meeting
Voted in favor: 2019
Government type: Town Meeting
Voted in favor: 2019
Government type: Representative Town Meeting
Voted in favor: 2018
Government type: Open Town Meeting
Voted in favor: 2019
Government type: City Council
Voted in favor: 2019
Government type: Open Town Meeting
Voted in favor: 2019
Government type: Open Town Meeting
Voted in favor: 2019
Government type: Town Meeting
Voted in favor: 2019
Government type: Open Town Meeting
Voted in favor: 2019
Government type: Open Town Meeting
Voted in favor: 2019
Government type: Open Town Meeting
Voted in favor: 2019
Government type: Open Town Meeting
Voted in favor: 2019
Government type: Open Town Meeting
Voted in favor: 2019
Government type: Open Town Meeting
Voted in favor: 2019
Government type: Open Town Meeting
Voted in favor: 2019
Government type: Open Town Meeting
Voted in favor: 2021
Government type: Town Meeting
Voted in favor: 2019
Government type: Open Town Meeting
Voted in favor: 2020
Government type: Open Town Meeting
Voted in favor: 2018
Government type: Open Town Meeting
Voted in favor: 2019
Government type: Open Town Meeting
Voted in favor: 2019
Government type: Open Town Meeting
Government type: City Council
Help Needed: Reaching out to Councilors
Government Type: Open Town Meeting
Voted in Favor: 2019
Already Voted in Favor: 61 - 9 on November 30th, 2022
Type of Government: Elected Town Meeting
Upcoming Action: Signatures Gathered
Government Type: Elected Town Meeting
Date of Town Meeting: April 10th, 2023
Type of Government: Representative Town Meeting.
Upcoming Action: Resolution will be on annual town meeting warrant, May 15th, 2023.
Help Needed: Urge Town Meeting members to support.
Upcoming Action: Resolution will appear on the May 13th Annual Town Meeting
Type of Government - Open Town Meeting
Help Needed - Plan to Attend Annual Town Meeting at vote for the resolution to change the flag and seal
Type of Government: Open Town Meeting.
Upcoming Action: Resolution will be on the warrant, annual town meeting, April 24th, 2023.
Help Needed: Attend Town Meeting, speak in favor, and vote for the resolution!
Upcoming Action: Signatures Being Gathered for Spring Town Meeting
Type of Government: Open Town Meeting
Help Needed: Sign Petition; Attend Town Meeting and Speak in Favor
Upcoming Action: Signatures being gathered to place resolution on Annual Town Meeting Warrant
Type of Government: Open Town Meeting
Help Needed: Sign Petition; Plan to attend Town Meeting and vote for the resolution
Voted in Favor: The Newburyport City Council voted 7 - 3 (with one abstention) in favor of a Resolution in Support of Changing the Flag and Seal, on Monday, March 13th, 2023.
Type of Government: City Council, 11 members: 6 by ward, 5 at-large
Help Needed: Gathering signatures; lobby councilors; attend hearing and speak in favor.
Upcoming Action: Signatures being gathered
Type of Government: Open Town Meeting
Help Needed: Sign Petition; Plan to Attend Annual Town Meeting and vote for resolution
Upcoming Action: Signatures being gathered to place resolution on annual town meeting warrant.
Type of Government: Open Town Meeting.
Help Needed: Sign Petition; Plan to attend Town Meeting and vote in favor of the resolution.
Upcoming Action: Resolution to change the flag and seal will be on the Annual Town Meeting warrant. Meeting begins on Monday, April 24th and continues on Wednesday, alternating Monday to Wednesday until all articles are heard.
Type of Government: Elected Town Meeting
Help Needed: Contact Town Meeting members, speak in support.
Upcoming Action: Resolution to be voted on at the annual town meeting, Monday, April 24th, in the evening
Type of Government: Open town meeting
Help Needed: Plan to attend town meeting and vote in favor of the resolution to change the flag and seal
Upcoming Action: Signatures being gathered.
Type of Government: Open Town Meeting.
Help Needed: Sign the petition; plan to attend annual town meeting and support the resolution
Upcoming Action: Signatures being gathered to place resolution on the town meeting warrant
Type of Government: Open Town Meeting
Help Needed: Sign Petition; Plan to Attend Annual Town Meeting and Vote in Favor
Upcoming Action: Resolution will appear on the warrant for the annual town meeting on Saturday, April 29th, beginning at noon at the Bromfield School
Type of Government: Open Town Meeting
Help Needed: Attend Town Meeting; Vote in favor of the resolution to change the flag and seal
Upcoming Action: Resolution will be on the warrant for the April 24th Annual Town Meeting; the meeting begins at 7:30 at the Sweetsir School on Church St. (and may continue on Monday, May 8th).
Type of Government: Open Town Meeting
Help Needed: Plan to attend the annual town meeting and support the resolution
Petition Signatures Handed in: Resolution will appear on the Annual Town Meeting Warrant, Monday, May 1st, 6:30 pm, Hanson Middle School
Government Type: Open Town Meeting
Help Needed: Attend Town Meeting and Vote in Support
Town Council Vote Scheduled: Monday, March 27th, 2023, 7 p.m. at the council chamber on 41 Elm Street
Type of Government: At large Town Council, nine members
Help Needed: Contact town councilors and urge their support of the resolution to change the flag and seal of Massachusetts; attend the hearing on March 27th and speak in favor of the resolution
Signatures Being Gathered: to place resolution on annual town meeting warrant
Type of Government: Open Town Meeting
Help Needed: Sign Petition; Plan to attend town meeting and speak in support of the resolution to change the flag and seal
Upcoming Action: Signatures gathered; resolution will be on the annual town meeting on May 11th, 7:00 pm at Lee High School
Type of Government: Open Town Meeting
Help Needed: Plan to attend town meeting and support the resolution
Upcoming Action: Signatures being gathered to place resolution on the May 8th annual town meeting warrant
Government Type: Open Town Meeting
Help Needed: Sign the Petition; Plan to Attend the Monday, May 8th Annual Town Meeting and support the resolution. The meeting begins at 7 p.m. at the Granite Valley School.
Upcoming Action: Signatures Being Gathered to place resolution on Annual Town Meeting
Type of Government: Open Town Meeting
Help Needed: Sign the Petition; Plan to Attend Annual Town Meeting and support the resolution to change the flag and seal
Upcoming Action: Resolution will be on the warrant for the April 25th Annual Town Meeting. Meeting begins at 7 pm at the Newbury Elementary School, 63 Hanover St.
Government Type: Open Town Meeting
Help Needed: Plan to Attend Town Meeting and Support the Resolution
Upcoming Action: Petition handed in; resolution will appear on the Spring Annual Town Meeting
Government Type: Open Town Meeting
Help Needed: Plan to attend town meeting and support the resolution to change the flag and seal
Upcoming Action: Signatures gathered, petitions handed in; resolution will be on the annual town meeting warrant on Monday, May 9th
Type of Government: Open town meeting
Help Needed: Plan to attend town meeting, speak in favor of the resolution
Want to add your organization to the list?
Get in touch.