Progressive Democrats in Washington state have introduced a bill to redesign the state flag, which currently features the face of George Washington on a green background. The move has been branded a 'woke plot' by critics, who accuse lawmakers of trying to erase the Founding Father from history.
House Bill 1938, sponsored by Representatives Strom Peterson, Julia Reed, and Greg Nance, calls for a more 'representative' design that better reflects the state's character and diversity. Blogger Emmett O'Connell, who will address lawmakers before the vote, described the current flag as 'deeply and historically bad' in a post on OlympiaTime.
O'Connell argued that symbols matter, citing controversies over Nazi flags and Trump flags. He urged the creation of a flag that 'reflects the beauty, diversity, and spirit of Washington.' However, commenters on his blog criticised the proposal as politically motivated, with some calling for lawmakers to focus on crime instead.
George Washington has faced scrutiny from progressives in recent years due to his ownership of slaves. The bill does not explicitly attack Washington but seeks a symbol that 'accurately reflects' the state's 'diverse communities.' A final design must be ready by July 1, 2028, and would be subject to a statewide referendum.
The bill is scheduled for a first hearing on Tuesday before the House State Government and Tribal Relations Committee. No proposed replacement designs have been released. Similar flag redesigns have recently occurred in Mississippi and Utah.
