Voted Against: The resolution to change the flag and seal was turned down by a vote of 31 - 43 at the annual town meeting of 5/5/23 Type of Government: Open Town Meeting

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.  On November 15th, 2023, the Special Commission recommended that an advisory group be established, to work under the Secretary of the Commonwealth and an Indigenous co-chair, to design a new flag, seal and motto. The Commission also called for an educational program on the history and meaning of the flag and seal to be created.

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Upcoming Action: Resolution approved by an overwhelming majority at the annual town meeting on Saturday, April 29th. Type of Government: Open Town Meeting

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Already Voted in Favor: Resolution was approved by a nearly unanimous vote (approximately 80 to 1 with 3 abstentions) at the  Saturday, May 20th, annual town meeting. Type of Government: Open Town Meeting

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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.

Contact your state legislators and urge them to support the work of the Special Commission, to change the flag and seal of Massachusetts.

The annual town meeting of Wayland voted 146 - 32 in support of changing the flag and seal of Massachusetts, on May 13th, 2024.

Upcoming Action: Resolution approved by a vote of 353 - 121 at the May 9th, 2023 annual town meeting. Government Type: Open Town Meeting

Voted in Favor: Resolution approved by majority at the annual town meeting on 5/15/2023 Type of Government: Elected Town Meeting

Voted in Favor: Resolution approved by a decisive majority at the May 9th, 2023 annual town meeting. Type of Government: Open Town Meeting

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Voted in Favor: Resolution approved by overwhelming majority at the May 16th, 2023 town meeting. Type of Government: Open Town Meeting

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Voted in Favor: The resolution was approved by majority vote at the annual town meeting on Saturday, May 6th, 2023. Type of Government: Open Town Meeting.

Upcoming Action: Resolution to Change the Flag and Seal was voted down by majority at the annual town meeting on June 13, 2023. The moderator allowed opponents to speak first, at length, before allowing the proponent who had risen to introduce the article to speak. When an opponent followed up by speaking against the resolution and calling the question at the same time, the moderator allowed this breach of town meeting rules to occur. Then the moderator called the discussion over, after the vote to call the question carried. He had to be instructed by the town counsel to allow a vote on the main motion. By that point, many people in the room were thoroughly confused about what they were in fact voting on. Type of Government: Open Town Meeting

On May 20th, 2024, the Winchendon annual town meeting voted 53 - 47 against a resolution of support for changing the flag and seal of Massachusetts.

Upcoming Action: Resolution approved by a vote of 91 -54 at the May 8th, 2023 annual town meeting. Type of Government: Open Town Meeting

Voted in Favor: Resolution was approved unanimously at the Saturday, May 13th 2023 Annual Town Meeting. Type of Government - Open Town Meeting

Upcoming Action: Resolution failed by a vote of 133 - 155 at the May 9th, 2023 annual town meeting. 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: Resolution passed by majority vote at the Annual Town Meeting on Monday, May 8th, 2023. Type of Government: Open Town Meeting

Upcoming Action: Resolution failed by a vote of 14 - 9 at the May 8th, 2023 annual town meeting. A second vote on the resolution was held on May 13th, 2024, and failed by a vote of 19 - 12. Type of Government: Open town meeting

Already Voted in Favor: Resolution approved by an overwhelming majority at the May 17th, 2023 annual town meeting. Type of Government: Elected Town Meeting

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.

Also, we can make a photocopy of the microform record on your behalf and mail it to you for $15. See more about purchasing copies at the Society.

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.

Already Voted in Favor: Resolution passed by majority vote at the June 13th annual town meeting, 2023. Type of Government: Open Town Meeting.

Voted  in Favor: Resolution was approved with all but one voter in at the well attended annual town meeting voting in favor on May 13th, 2023. There was no official count, but it looked like about 99 in favor, only one opposed. Type of Government: Open Town Meeting.

Upcoming Action: Resolution passed by a vote of 44 - 39 at 11:30 pm at the annual town meeting on Thursday, May 11th, 2023. Type of Government: Open Town Meeting

Voted in Favor: Resolution approved at the Annual Town Meeting of Monday, May 1st, 2023 in Hanson, by a vote of 71 to 48. Government Type: Open Town Meeting

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.

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Voted in Favor: Brookfield voted 52 - 36 at the annual town meeting on June 1st, 2023, in favor of the resolution. Type of Government: Open Town Meeting

Our voices in support of this historic process are needed now! The time has come to change the Massachusetts flag and seal.

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: On Tuesday, April 11th, 2023, Falmouth Annual Town Meeting voted 98 - 94 in favor of changing the flag and seal. Type of Government: Elected Town Meeting

Upcoming Action: Resolution Passed UNANIMOUSLY at the annual town meeting, Monday, April 24th! Type of Government: Open town meeting