A proposed flag policy in Oak Bluffs was debated again Tuesday by the select board when member Emma Green-Beach pitched the installation of a new town ceremonial flagpole.
The pole would fly non-federally recognized flags, such as the Juneteenth and Progress Pride flags, to promote town diversity and inclusivity, she said.
The select board was in support of the sentiment behind the pole, but some members were concerned about its potential to cause divisiveness over what flags can and cannot be flown.
The board agreed to invite the town attorney to a future meeting to weigh in on the proposed policy change.
“I would think that we need to have counsel involved at some point to make sure that we are writing a policy that won’t get us sued later on down the line,” said board member Jason Balboni.
Last year, the town flew the Progress Pride flag in June for Pride Month after months of debate among the select board, the town’s flag committee and members of the Martha’s Vineyard NAACP. The board had previously enacted a policy allowing only the American flag, Massachusetts state flag, Oak Bluffs flag, POW-MIA flag and military flags to be flown by the town. The flying of the Progress Pride flag was a temporary exemption.
Ms. Green-Beach, who is a member of the flag committee, is now hoping for a permanent home for ceremonial flags and has been advocating for the pole since February. She explained that the flags would be raised for one to 14 days, as determined by the select board, and be in commemoration of local holidays and events.
“This would be the town’s flagpole,” she said. “The town has the right to therefore say yes to particular flags and no to flags that the town decides are not appropriate for our community.”
Members of the NAACP joined the meeting in support of the policy, draping a Progress Pride flag over a row of seats.
The select board also welcomed new members Tom Hallahan and Dion Alley to their first meeting and voted Ms. Green-Beach as its chair.
Comments
Enough with trying to hurt
JJ Klingensmith Edgartown/NaplesEnough with trying to hurt everyone’s feelings, just keep giving everyone participation trophies!
Why on Earth are we stepping
Bob OBWhy on Earth are we stepping into this quagmire? Boston just went through this a year ago. It's naive of the Select Board to think that they can just pick the flags that make them feel warm and fuzzy and reject the rest. So we're going to hire lawyers to try to figure out how to thread this needle - and for what? This is a dumb thing to risk getting sued over just to appease a small but very vocal group. This seems less like a public policy issue, and more like a way for an elected official to promote causes they favor. The existing policy makes sense, and that's why it was put in place last year. If you won't say yes to everyone, then you need to say no to everyone.
When the Nazis groups here in
Carlos Degotta Vineyard HavenWhen the Nazis groups here in the U.S., want to march on public streets and wave their flags that’s ok according to the U.S. Supreme Court. I dare say there is not many here on island would attend the Nazis parade to cheer their message non-inclusion. What I glean from this article different groups are looking for recognition by hanging their flag which is a step towards inclusion which is part and parcel being included into a larger group. I being an American am all for inclusion of all groups and peoples that’s why we are a great country and people the world over look to us as yes, the city on a hill.
Having myself served in the military for a number of years and taken the oath to defend the constitution of the United States of America against all enemies foreign and domestic. I take ownership and take pride of the ideas and ideals written in our constitution, which we as a nation are forever trying to get right. And it is through the process of getting it right is where the life of our republic lives, through angry words, hate filled speech, loving embrace, feeding the children and just living our day to day the republic is the mirror of ourselves and it is as weak or as strong as we make it.
As a child every morning in my class room many years ago my teacher would pick out a deserving student, he or she showing and observing the best behavior to lead our class in the pledge of allegiance to the flag of the United States of America. We would stand at attention and salute the symbol of our republic by placing our hands over our hearts and swear our allegiance to the same. Something to this day which fills my breast with pride and with a lump in my throat thinking about all who lost their lives and limbs, all those who lost their loved ones to death, dismemberment, and substance abuse I also think of all the suffering of my fellow black citizens who were tortured and abused to build this nation, of my fellow first citizens who were robbed, killed, and forced off their lands. Our republic is a living breathing testament to our inadequacies and fears but also our hope and love, we are the people, we are the ones to decide our collective fates.
I have come full circle on this debate of flying non-government flags, the more I include people whom do not think the way I do the richer I become. I was always under the opinion that the flag of the United States represented all of this republic after all that’s why I took an oath and served I believed the government was serving all the citizens, I was wrong to many of us are marginalized and not listened to, to many under served, to many not given what is theirs from their labors, to many hungry, to many yearning to be part of the whole. May God Bless America and for all of which it stands, for the people.
“You can please some of the
Chris Offshore“You can please some of the people some of the time but you can’t please all the people all the time”
"This would be the town's
Chris Edgartown"This would be the town's flagpole"
No Emma, it would not. It would be a display for a small group of people who like to feel important.
If you support your favorite cause, then do it on your own time and not the town's dime.
I read the above comments
Lynn vera Oak bluffsI read the above comments with an understanding that to these residents it’s just simpler and more fair to say no to all. I can see that point. But the value of the town celebrating Pride andJuneteenth in such a simple yet powerful way cannot be overstated. I respect the work of the committee and urge the SelectBoard, after conferring with Counsel, to take the lead and try…starting with these 2 flags in June. History holds all the reasons why these 2 flags especially need to be proudly raised on high in our town. I will never forget my own personal feeling of joy getting off the boat one day to be greeted and welcomed home by the Pride flag.
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