The only Muslim-majority town in the United States has banned Pride flags from being displayed on public property.
On Tuesday, Hamtramck, Michigan’s city council unanimously voted to only allow the American flag or flags of nations with shared values.
The city’s liberals are outraged over the move, however.
Local resident Hayley Cain said she chose to live in Hamtramck for its “diversity” after moving from California.
“I’m questioning whether it is…. The pride flag represents making space for all humans on all the spectrums, and this is where we’re going as a human species,” Cain said.
“You can’t stop that.”
Dawud Walid, director of the Michigan branch of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, said:
“If there was one group that was not being granted access to something while others were then we would have a problem.
“Flags carry symbolism.
“Those symbols carry social and political messages.”
“You guys are welcome,” council member Nayeem Choudhury said.
“But why do you have to have the flag shown on government property to be represented?
“You’re already represented.
“We already know who you are.”
Councilman and Mayor Pro Tem Mohammed Hassan said:
“Only, the American flag, and the nations’ flags that represent the international character of our City shall be flown to maintain and confirm the neutrality of the city of Hamtramck towards its residents.”
“The city does not want to open the door for radical or racist groups to ask for their flags to be flown.”
“Flying … the LGBT flag is something unacceptable,” Hamtramck Mayor Amer Ghalib said, translating the words of a resident into English. “And it’s odd, he said, to humanity and to the nature of people. And he thinks it will destroy the new generations.” https://t.co/82UfNimdxR
— Niraj Warikoo (@nwarikoo) June 15, 2023
The all-Muslim Hamtramck City Council faces backlash from LGBTQ supporters for invoking religion to justify a hateful action https://t.co/3rGkAjitGl
— Steve Neavling (@MCmuckraker) June 14, 2023
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