"Right Wing Crazies" Are All Riled Up About Minnesota's New State Flag
The state of Minnesota has a new flag that is causing some drama in certain conservative circles.
This was the old flag, which has been considered offensive for years.
CNN explained, "Critics have long taken issue with the depiction of an Indigenous American on horseback at the center of the seal, which is read as a reference to the displacement of native people throughout Minnesota’s history."
After crowdsourcing thousands of submissions, a commission has picked a new flag designed by a 24-year-old Minnesota resident.
The New York Times explained the meaning behind the new design, "The new design consists of a light blue right panel, representing the state’s many lakes, and navy blue left panel, resembling the shape of Minnesota, with an eight-pointed northern star."
People are generally happy about the change because, let's face it, the old one looked like someone mowing a lawn.
Wait, THIS was the old state flag of Minnesota? A picture of a woman mowing a lawn with a Star Wars droid and a Borg in a bunny suit riding a horse, surrounded by fruit and stars, with an inscription in French reading "The toilet of the North"???? pic.twitter.com/376O7Jx3Ar
— Noah Smith 🐇🇺🇸🇺🇦 (@Noahpinion) December 20, 2023
"Our new state flag will make us proud for years to come," said Minnesota Secretary of State Steve Simon.
Today is a great day for Minnesota. Our new state flag will make us proud for many years to come. I’ve been honored to be part of the commission that selected it. pic.twitter.com/VKzPWcfgpx
— Steve Simon (@MNSteveSimon) December 19, 2023
"Dare I say anything that's not a Native person being forced off their land is a flag upgrade," Lt. Governor Peggy Flanagan said.
Dare I say anything that’s not a Native person being forced off their land is a flag upgrade?! Excited to have a new state flag that represents every Minnesotan.😊 https://t.co/cuuOLu7RHs
— Lt. Governor Peggy Flanagan (@LtGovFlanagan) December 19, 2023
But because it's 2023, not everyone *loved* it.
Some people have purposely spread misinformation that the new flag looks like a state flag from Somalia's Puntland region.
Minnesota is home to the largest Somali population in the West. Rep. Ilhan Omar (Minnesota) is from Puntland. Minnesota just unveiled their new flag.I'm sure this is just a coincidence: pic.twitter.com/yayoteQoXE
— End Wokeness (@EndWokeness) December 17, 2023
The "End Wokeness" account claimed this new flag — which again is not even the real new flag design — was "rubbing it in our faces."
Minnesota just replaced its official state flag with a new flag that looks awfully similar to Somalia.They are rubbing it in our faces. pic.twitter.com/gk2E91RjKR
— End Wokeness (@EndWokeness) December 17, 2023
And there are definitely people on X fully entrenched in that Somali flag conspiracy theory — this is because Representative Ilhan Omar is of Somali descent and someone who is constantly a target of misinformation by the far right.
In response, Representative Ilhan Omar posted, "I hate to break it to the rightwing crazies, but I had nothing to do with the new design."
It’s official! I’m loving the new Minnesota state flag. And I hate to break it to the rightwing crazies, but I had nothing to do with the new design. 😜 pic.twitter.com/8cyF2WKsZI
— Ilhan Omar (@IlhanMN) December 19, 2023
The BBC also reported, "Officials have said that any similarity is a coincidence."
After all of that drama, I think the new design is kind of chic. Thoughts?
