Pride rally takes aim at flag issue

Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel was at last Saturday’s pride rally in Zussman Park where she criticized the mayor and city council over their decision to ban the display of a pride flag on city property.

By Charles Sercombe
Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel had some fiery words for Hamtramck’s mayor and city council.
Nessel spoke at last Saturday’s rally in Zussman Park, in response to a recent council resolution banning the pride flag — along with other types of flags — from being displayed on city property.
The LGBTQ community here, statewide and nationally, took that action as an attack on them.
Nessel, who is the state’s first Jewish AG as well as openly gay, called out Mayor Amer Ghalib and the council, saying:
“Take down the wall you have now built that has made this proud city into a national embarrassment, and raise the flag of equality.”
The rally attracted about 50-100 people in support of the LGBTQ community. Several people spoke after Nessel, all of them aiming criticism at city officials.
“When you say one group of people are not welcomed, to the community, it communicates that it’s OK to beat up on them,” said the Rev. Roland Stringfellow, who also said that he, too, is gay.
As for the city council saying they passed the pride flag ban in order to remain neutral, Stringfellow said:
“That’s not ‘neutral,’ that’s taking sides, and it gives people a license to be hateful towards other folks.”
There had been rumors of counter-protestors attending too, but none, as far as could be detected, showed up. That might have been because of the heavy police presence, including by the Michigan State Police.
Streets leading to the park were closed off by police.
Police Chief Anne Moise said there were no incidents and no arrests.
Mayor Amer Ghalib took credit for talking down some counter-protestors on the Hamtramck Square Facebook page, saying:
“I would like to thank our community leaders and activists who listened to our recommendations and canceled the rallies that they wanted to organize this week in support of resolution 82.
“Our intention is to keep the city as peaceful and calm as possible and to de-escalate tensions and to avoid any consequences or complications of protests and counter protests.”
Many of those attending also carried homemade signs, some reading:
“Don’t Florida my Hamtramck”
“Trans Hamtramck”
And “Hatred has no home in Hamtramck”
So what’s next regarding the pride flag ban?
There has been some talk of looking into legal action, and whether the council’s resolution is a constitutional violation.
Nessel, the state’s top law enforcer, did not mention taking legal action.
As for the council’s stance that their resolution is one of neutrality, Nessel also took issue with that, quoting The Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr.:
“The hottest place in hell is reserved for those who remain neutral in times of great moral conflict.”
The pride flag issue has also attracted a number of media outlets from the state, nationally and internationally. So far, the attention has not appeared to have died down.
LGBTQ community members say they plan a number of events in the coming weeks and months.
Posted June 39, 2023