Published: May 16, 2008
ACLU Joins Vets in Protest Friday Over City Refusal to Allow Memorial Day Flag
No Memorial Day display on Capitol Mall? ACLU joins veterans in protest, will hold news briefing Friday to chastise City
SACRAMENTO - The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) in Sacramento will join veterans and others for a major news conference here Friday to criticize the City of Sacramento for refusing to allow 120,000 white and red flags - remembering those who have died in the Iraq War - to temporarily occupy otherwise empty city land over the Memorial Day weekend.
The news conference will be held FRIDAY, at 10 a.m., at 9th & Capitol, on the grassy street median - the potential site for the flags. Some flags will be "planted" there, permit or not.
Sponsors said permit approval for the display - part of a traveling display which has been allowed in other U.S. cities, including Portland, OR and Boulder, CO. - was assured by the city nearly 6 weeks ago, but the city at the last moment has changed its mind just a few days ago.
Because of the late termination, sponsors believe the rejection is based on the suspected political content of the display - something that may make the rejection unconstitutional, and contrary to city ordinances, according to legal experts.
Other than the tiny flags, sponsors said there will be no other literature or political content.
"It's an outrage that on Memorial Day, of all days, our own city on our own land won't allow us to remember those who have died fighting in this war," said Debra Reiger.
Some members of the City Council, including Vietnam veteran Ray Treathaway, said they support the display, and have put it on the agenda for next week - but it may be too late, said Reiger.
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