APRIL 12, 2026 — The Montgomery City Council in Alabama has formally introduced a proposed design for a new flag, says WSFA 12.
The new proposal was unveiled during a council meeting on April 7, following a year-long initiative sparked by local advocacy.
The movement for a new civic emblem began in late 2024 when Jeremiah Treece, then a high school senior, addressed the council to argue that the existing 1952 flag utilized imagery reminiscent of Confederate symbols, including a diagonal blue stripe and a star count reflecting the Confederate states. Treece suggested that the municipal banner should instead reflect themes of peace and unity.
The selected design originated from a contest that drew 27 submissions from the public, which a council committee eventually narrowed to five finalists.
The winning concept was submitted by Treece and finalized by designer Josh Gordon.
The proposed flag features a red and white field with a central gold and blue star positioned in front of a blue ribbon. Two olive branches, intended to represent goodwill and peace, flank the central imagery.
According to a description provided during the council proceedings, the red sections are intended to symbolize momentum and the city’s “evolving narrative,” while the nine stars adorning the ribbon represent Montgomery’s individual city council districts. The ribbon element is described as a symbol of renewal, according to the Black Belt News Network, likening it to a ribbon-cutting ceremony for a new beginning.
Councilor Oronde Mitchell, who served on the redesign committee alongside Julie Turner Beard and Franetta Delayne Riley, stated that the goal was to create a symbol that all residents could support without intentionally erasing local heritage.
The Montgomery City Council is expected to hold a formal vote to officially adopt the new flag on April 21.
Image: WSFA 12
