Washington flag redesign blasted as “un-American”

A bill which would redesign the Washington State flag has been blasted as “un-American” by state Republicans who fear a redesign would remove George Washington from the state flag.

The bill, HB 1938, which was introduced by Democratic Washington state Representative Strom Peterson, does not expressly call for the removal of George Washington from the state flag, but does state that “while George Washington is an important national figure, he has limited historical connection to the state itself. This makes his image less meaningful as a symbol for the state.”

Newsweek contacted Peterson for comment via email on Friday.

Why It Matters

Republican Representative Hunter Abell, one of the lawmakers opposed to the proposition, raised concerns that potentially removing George Washington from the flag could result in changing the name of the state itself, although that has not been raised by the bill or by other lawmakers.

Democratic leadership also does not appear to be keen on the bill, saying they will probably not move on it this year as they have other priorities, according to reporting from the Washington State Standard.

What To Know

Representative Peterson’s bill states, “The legislature finds that the Washington 7 state flag often faces criticism for its poor design and lack of relevance to the state’s identity. The flag features a detailed portrait of George Washington, making it overly complex and difficult to reproduce which is a violation of key flag design principles that prioritize simplicity.”

The bill does state that any redesigns to the state flag would have to be approved via a referendum asking voters whether they would like to keep the existing design or adopt any new one.

However, the Washington State Standard’s report noted that Republicans slammed the bill as “un-American.”

Washington State did not exist in George Washington’s time. It was occupied by Britain and the United States in 1818 and did not become an official state until 1889, 80 years after Washington’s death in 1799.

Its current state flag was officially adopted in March 1923 and features a dark green field with the state seal in the center. The seal consists of a portrait of George Washington, the first U.S. president, set against a light-colored background inside a circular band.

What People Are Saying

State Representative Strom Peterson said, according to the Washington State Standard: “[We’re] not asking to remove George Washington from the history of Washington state… This is more about the aesthetics of the flag and what the flag could represent to bring people across the state together.”

State Representative Hunter Abell said, according to the Washington State Standard: “To be the only state in the nation to be named after a president is a distinct honor… One that we should not take for granted and we certainly should not be ashamed of or attempt to eliminate him from our flag.”

What Happens Next

Peterson’s bill would create a committee of legislators from both parties, historians, Native Americans, artistic leaders, and designers, to redesign the flag by 2028.

However, the Washington State Standard reported that the bill is not likely to move forward this year, with lawmakers to focus on other priorities.