"By the Sword We Seek Peace": Changing the Massachusetts Seal and Motto

Join us for an engaging panel discussion with three long-term Massachusetts citizens and activists who have been working to change the Commonwealth’s seal, motto, and flag.

In contrast with many other states, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts uses its seal prolifically. In addition to its appearance on official legal documents, the seal of the commonwealth appears on the state flag, on our driver’s licenses, on every webpage of the state website, on state-generated public service announcements, and on the majority of materials generated by the state government and distributed to the public. So all residents of Massachusetts and our visitors encounter the seal and motto on a regular basis.

Elements of the Commonwealth’s seal and motto incorporate imagery first used in the 17th century by the earliest colonists of Massachusetts. Today, for the first time since the 1880s, there is serious consideration being given to the meanings, use, and broad social impacts of the current seal and motto of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. There are increasing calls to change both the seal and motto in order to mitigate harm and better reflect the contemporary values and aspirations of our citizens.

But what exactly are the problematic issues with the seal and motto, what are the histories behind them, and why is there a push to change them?

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David Detmold is the founding editor of the weekly independent newspaper, the Montague Reporter. He lives in Montague, where he served for 20 years as a member of the representative town meeting of Montague. Since 2018 he has coordinated the changethemassflag.com website.

Elizabeth Solomon is an enrolled member and elder of the Massachusett Tribe at Ponkapoag. Ms. Solomon has a long-standing commitment to indigenous rights and community building. In this capacity she speaks frequently about local indigenous issues and serves on multiple advisory and management boards.

Brittney Peauwe Wunnepog Walley is a Nipmuc tribal member. Her advocacy work has included representing the Chaubunagungamaug Nipmuc and Hassanamisco Nipmuc. She served as a representative of the Hassanamisco Nipmuc during the work of the Special Commission on the Official Seal and Motto of the Commonwealth. She continues advocacy work as a public speaker, a member of the Massachusetts mascot steering committee, and as a weaver.

More information

Change the Mass Flag campaign

Katharine Q. Seelye, "A State Wrestles With Its Imagery: A Sword Looming Over a Native American," New York Times, September 7, 2019

WBUR, interview with Brian Weedon, chair of the Mashpee Wampanoag, and co-chair of the 2022 special state commission reviewing the official flag and seal.

Note: Our events are a forum for different opinions, new findings, and discussion. The views expressed are those of the presenters, not necessarily that of the Partnership of Historic Bostons.

This event will be recorded and posted on historicbostons.org and our YouTube channel.

Image: Massachusetts coat of arms. Wikimedia Commons