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MINNEAPOLIS — Minnesota Republicans have come out swinging against the

Republican Party of Minnesota Chairman David Hann and Deputy Chairwoman Donna Bergstrom, of Duluth, have joined voices in Greater Minnesota that have denounced the flag.

Hann decried the new flag in a statement Wednesday, Jan. 10, saying the old flag has historical importance and that Minnesotans fought under it during the Civil War.

Minnesota’s old flag, adopted in 1893, is built around the state’s seal. Surrounding the seal are 19 stars representing Minnesota as the 19th state to join the Union after the 13 original American colonies, and three dates: 1819 for the founding of Fort Snelling, 1858 for statehood and 1893 for the flag’s adoption.

The old state seal of Minnesota depicts a white farmer tilling the soil, with a gun leaning against a nearby stump as a Native American riding a horse nearby looks in his direction. The original seal showed the Native rider headed west into the sunset, but state lawmakers in 1983 changed the direction to the south.

The new flag has an eight-pointed star, an outline of the state in dark blue and a lighter blue that represents the state's water completing the flag.

"The DFL quest to erase our history is repugnant and should be rejected," said Hann, who lives in Eden Prairie.

A large state government bill signed into law by Gov. Tim Walz last year options for the state seal and flag.

While the commission included Secretary of State Steve Simon, a DFLer, the majority of the board was made up of representatives for people of color in the state, including Native Americans. The commission also included a representative from the Minnesota Historical Society and four non-voting legislators, two from the DFL and two Republicans.

In addition to the state Republican Party condemning the flag, Crow Wing County Commissioners recently

"Put the flag and seal on the ballot and let the voters decide if it pleases you. But a group of 13 people mostly chosen by the governor is not democracy. If this design is accepted, it will be a great travesty," Sen. Nathan Wesenberg, R-Little Falls, wrote in a statement to the Crow Wing County Commissioners.

Putting them to a vote might not be constitutional,

"The only statewide votes are for candidates, (and) for amendments to the Minnesota Constitution. We're not an initiative and referendum state. We don't have any kind, whether it's a flag or a bill or anything else for a vote," Simon said.

Sen. Jordan Rasmusson, R-Fergus Falls, has also publicly denounced the flag.

"In recent weeks, my office has received an overwhelming number of emails and phone calls from constituents who are strongly opposed to the new Minnesota state flag," Though the design itself is a concern to many, the greater disappointment lies with the severe lack of consensus it received from Minnesotans.

The new flag and seal will become official on May 11 unless legislators act to undo the commission's work.