By Susan Hardee Steger
June 28, 2018 5:00 p.m.
In less than a minute and a half, with a brief comment from Vice Mayor Len Kreger, the Fernandina Beach City Commission at the commission’s June 26, special meeting reached consensus to allow a Pride Flag to be flown on the City Hall Flag Pole during June, the designated “Pride Month.” Although a formal vote could have been called for, the mayor received consensus. Commissioners Chapman, Ross, and Smith, did not comment.
Today, two days after the approval, a large Confederate Flag is being paraded on the public sidewalks in front of City Hall. Whether the appearance of the Confederate Flag is a coincidence or a response to the commission’s decision to raise the Pride Flag is not known at this time.
The “Discussion/Action Item” was placed on the special meeting agenda focused on “Customary Use of the Beach” by Mayor Johnny Miller. During the discussion, Vice Mayor Kreger said, “Just keep in mind as we move forward for this type of thing is for any and all groups . . .” After Kreger’s comment Mayor Miller said, we “sort of got consensus.”
In an email sent to commissioners on June 28, City Attorney Tammi Bach said, “The display of the Pride flag at City Hall by the Mayor is government speech which does not allow (or open “Pandora’s box”) for a new right of private individuals to demand, petition or be permitted to engage in private speech (i.e. other flags such as Confederate battle flag, Christian flag, heterosexual flags) on the Fernandina Beach City Hall official flag pole. Regarding the Confederate Flag being carried on the public sidewalk, Bach said, “The man . . . has a First Amendment right to expression . . . even if it is offensive.”
To view City Commission special meeting and Pride Flag discussion, fast forward to 36.20 minutes.
Well done, FBCC! The man with the flag has the right to speak, but that doesn’t mean he has the right to an audience. Ironic in light of Dale’s column.
It Heartens me to see the Flag of Love, Peace, Brotherhood/Sisterhood flying on the Yardarm of our City Office Building, and The Flag of Bigotry,Racism, and Hatred, on the Sidewalk Below.! We will take the High Road, as they take the Low.! Just maybe we are making progress.
Progress, yup….condoning a questionable lifestyle choice. Thank goodness the Justice that imposed this nonsense on the nation is retiring. Time to overturn Obergefell.
Agreed.
I believe each of us in this nation has the right to marry whomever we choose. There is little doubt that each of us manifests “questionable lifestyle choices.” As Steve said, let us all take the High Road and leave no one behind. It is past time that all of us spread compassion, not hatred, in our community.
Hate is making a baker go through four years of legal battles. Hate is forcing a florist to move out of state. Hate is telling those who voted to keep marriage supported by hundreds of years of legal precedent to shut up. Hate is forcing a young girl to use a restroom some strange man does. “Tolerance” by force is not love.
Well said
Did taxes pay for the flag? If so then all military flags as well as the Christian Flag should be bought with tax dollars and flown or take it down.
Those who think the Confederate flag is a symbol of hate and racist. Best look up the true meaning of it. Before you spread untrue about it.
This particular flag is the Confederate battle flag used by the Army of Northern Virginia. The flag of the Confederate States is quite different; the City incorporated it into its shield a number of years ago. The current use of the battle flag started again with the Jim Crow era and yet again in the post-WWII era as a symbol of white supremacy and to intimidate full integration. It’s current use isn’t in doubt.
In addition, it’s in use in Germany by white nationalists who are not permitted to use Nazi symbology.
The city attorney said my flag was offensive, what about the Gay Rainbow flag, I find it offensive. If you do not put in an ordinance, saying only Government Flags can be flown on public property and in front of city hall, you will have a lawsuit filed agains the city and you will cost the taxpayers tens of thousands of dollars. And, if you allow the Gay flag to continue to be flown next year, I want the Confederate Flag flown for the entire month of April, which is Confederate History Month as proclaimed by Governor Lawton Chiles in 1998.