Cross-Commonwealth Walk Highlights Fight to Change State Flag

WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. — A small but growing group of activists from around New England on Friday began a planned three-week trek across the commonwealth to deliver a message to Gov. Maura Healey.

 

David Detmold, 69, of Montague, is the leader of an effort to raise awareness about the Massachusetts Indigenous legislative agenda.

 

On Friday afternoon, he took a break after hiking from the New York State line to talk about that agenda in the shadow of the Williamstown Meetinghouse, home of the First Congregational Church.

 

Detmold said the group's objectives boil down to three main points: listen to Native nations, defend sacred homelands, honor all people.

 

On the first goal, a major point of emphasis is a decades-long campaign to change the Massachusetts state flag.

 

As the group makes its way east toward the State House in Boston, it is handing out literature explaining some of its causes, including one that breaks down the objectionable elements of the commonwealth's seal, which adorns the flag.

 

One element that jumps out: the image of what appears to be a colonialist wielding a sword above the image of a Native American.