A growing movement in opposition to a new state flag is buzzing in Utah after the state's governor signed off on a new flag in March, replacing a hundred-year-old design.
This story is available exclusively to Business Insider subscribers. Become an Insider and start reading now. Have an account? Log in.But lawmakers in Utah are already threatening to torpedo the new idea, claiming that the flag's reinterpretation of the state's beehive symbol is overly "woke." The redesign process examined thousands of designs, according to The Wall Street Journal.
But after the bill was signed, a referendum to scrap the new state flag began building steam.
The old flag, designed in 1911, features several nods to the Mormon pioneers who arrived in Salt Lake City on July 24, 1847. The new flag keeps the beehive symbol — a marker of the work ethic of the pioneers — but features a much simpler, more modern design with five peaks representing Utah's mountains and red mountains, in reference to the state's red rock canyons. In total, 72 people contributed to the new design.
Gov. Spencer Cox's decision to sign the bill making the flag official in March has ruffled conservative feathers in the state, per the Journal. After receiving criticism from Republicans, Cox said that he made sure the beehive would stay included, but that he was surprised at how divisive the design was.
"I was hoping this would be a thing that brings people together," Cox said, per the Journal. "I should have known better." Cox did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Insider.
Brandon Beckham, a member of Utah's Republican party-central committee, told the Journal that the new design was "just a logo."
"The original Utah flag has built in its ideals that are true to the founding of the state that are linked to history," Beckham told the Journal.
Others took umbrage with how the new design removed a bald eagle, the words "Utah" and "Industry" from the flag, as well as the date 1896, which is when Utah became the 45th state, according to The Washington Post.
Ryan Woods, a conservative drag performer known as Lady MAGA USA, said the change flew in the face of history.
"Woke, politically correct mobs are erasing history across American states in statues, names of institutions, and now flags," Woods told The Salt Lake Tribune.
A referendum to repeal the new flag is gaining steam, but detractors would need the support of 8% of voters in 26 of the 29 districts to move forward, according to the Journal.
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