Jeremiah Treece’s petition + Joshua Gordon’s design unite for new Montgomery flag debut

Alabama’s capital city has officially entered a new chapter. On Thursday, Oct. 1, the City of Montgomery welcomed community members to city hall for the official raising of the new Montgomery flag, marking its first municipal flag redesign since 1952.

The journey to this historic milestone began with student initiative and deep civic pride.

Sparked by student activist Jeremiah Treece and brought to vibrant life by local designer Joshua Gordon, this fresh standard bridges the gap between Montgomery’s past and its bright future.

Jeremiah Treece on why change matters for Montgomery

Jeremiah Treece first sparked the movement as a senior at Booker T. Washington Magnet High School.

Today, he is a sophomore at Berea College, double majoring in English and African-American Studies on the pre-law track. Even after graduating and leaving for college, Treece remained deeply invested in the creation and installation of the new Montgomery flag, serving as a great example that one person can truly make a difference.

Reflecting on the campaign, Treece shared:

“On August 15, 2024, I published a petition to change the city of Montgomery flag. I didn’t know what that petition was going to do; I didn’t know if it was going to work. I just knew that I wanted to try to do something to change what I had seen.”

After researching its history, he presented a compelling case to the city council, which referred the matter to the government affairs committee.

“Today is a win. Today is a win for students, historians, Montgomery and culture overall, but this does not mean the work is over. We have to continue educating, continue coming together and reclaiming our stories.”

– Jeremiah Treece

Architect Joshua Gordon on crafting a symbol for all

Following a public design contest that drew 27 submissions, Montgomery native, Tuskegee University graduate, architect and U.S. Army engineer officer Joshua Gordon created the winning design.

Gordon balanced honoring the past with looking ahead toward the future, noting that when he began designing the flag, he kept coming back to one central question: what should our city’s flag say about who we are?

He recalled that he didn’t want to simply erase the past or get rid of history because that very history is what brings the community to today.

Pointing to the final product, he explained:

“While it may have been my original idea, the flag that we’re going to see is more than just my flag; it’s our flag and that’s something I’m most proud of.”

Gordon also highlighted the significance of the visual flow:

“The blue ribbon that you’re going to see represents movement. It represents a city that continues to grow and move forward.”

Embracing unity + progress with the new Montgomery flag

During Thursday’s celebration, city leaders noted the profound cultural significance of adopting the new Montgomery flag.

Mayor Steven Reed shared his perspective on the community’s evolving identity:

“By adopting this flag, we honor our history without being bound by it. We choose a symbol that reflects unity, progress and the inclusive identity Montgomery truly deserves. This new flag is our city’s heartbeat made visible… A heartbeat steady, strong and full of life.”