Flags are flying at City Hall

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.