Posted on Nov 14, 2023
Palestinian flag over US town divides locals
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Residents of a Massachusetts community remain divided on whether a Palestinian flag should be raised to fly above the town commons from now until December.
A heated town meeting saw tempers flare over a teenage resident's request for the flag to be flown on the North Andover Town Common, but ultimately, officials agreed to approve a permit for the flag on Monday evening. An Israeli flag has been flying in the same spot since last month, and Palestine supporters said they should have the same right.
A heated town meeting saw tempers flare over a teenage resident's request for the flag to be flown on the North Andover Town Common, but ultimately, officials agreed to approve a permit for the flag on Monday evening. An Israeli flag has been flying in the same spot since last month, and Palestine supporters said they should have the same right.
Palestinian flag over US town divides locals
Posted from newsweek.com
Palestine
Israel
Posted 6 mo ago
Responses: 5
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PO1 William "Chip" Nagel
..."Teenager Selma Khayal, 18, was the resident who had requested to have the Palestinian flag flown. Many in the meeting were dismayed when the town approved the request, but others whooped, applauded, and cheered.
Khayal later told WCVB 5: "This is what's fair. This is a representation that we've been waiting for. And it's not a victory just for me; it's a victory for Palestinians—they're the ones I'm doing this for."
North Andover Town Manager Melissa Rodrigues said a policy allowing residents to apply to fly a flag of their choice had resulted "in that flagpole being considered a public forum." Rodrigues added that a previous Supreme Court ruling involving another city and involving the right to free speech meant that: "The content or the subject matter of a flag cannot be considered when reviewing an application."
However, the town has now changed its policy and will no longer accept applications from residents to have flags raised on the common.
Khayal's application to fly the Palestinian flag was submitted on October 16, just hours before the town updated its flag policy, meaning it was considered and approved under the old rules.
The flag will be flown for a month from Tuesday, and it will be the last time a resident's choice of flag will fly above North Andover's common."
..."Teenager Selma Khayal, 18, was the resident who had requested to have the Palestinian flag flown. Many in the meeting were dismayed when the town approved the request, but others whooped, applauded, and cheered.
Khayal later told WCVB 5: "This is what's fair. This is a representation that we've been waiting for. And it's not a victory just for me; it's a victory for Palestinians—they're the ones I'm doing this for."
North Andover Town Manager Melissa Rodrigues said a policy allowing residents to apply to fly a flag of their choice had resulted "in that flagpole being considered a public forum." Rodrigues added that a previous Supreme Court ruling involving another city and involving the right to free speech meant that: "The content or the subject matter of a flag cannot be considered when reviewing an application."
However, the town has now changed its policy and will no longer accept applications from residents to have flags raised on the common.
Khayal's application to fly the Palestinian flag was submitted on October 16, just hours before the town updated its flag policy, meaning it was considered and approved under the old rules.
The flag will be flown for a month from Tuesday, and it will be the last time a resident's choice of flag will fly above North Andover's common."
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PO1 William "Chip" Nagel
..."Teenager Selma Khayal, 18, was the resident who had requested to have the Palestinian flag flown. Many in the meeting were dismayed when the town approved the request, but others whooped, applauded, and cheered.
Khayal later told WCVB 5: "This is what's fair. This is a representation that we've been waiting for. And it's not a victory just for me; it's a victory for Palestinians—they're the ones I'm doing this for."
North Andover Town Manager Melissa Rodrigues said a policy allowing residents to apply to fly a flag of their choice had resulted "in that flagpole being considered a public forum." Rodrigues added that a previous Supreme Court ruling involving another city and involving the right to free speech meant that: "The content or the subject matter of a flag cannot be considered when reviewing an application."
However, the town has now changed its policy and will no longer accept applications from residents to have flags raised on the common.
Khayal's application to fly the Palestinian flag was submitted on October 16, just hours before the town updated its flag policy, meaning it was considered and approved under the old rules.
The flag will be flown for a month from Tuesday, and it will be the last time a resident's choice of flag will fly above North Andover's common."
..."Teenager Selma Khayal, 18, was the resident who had requested to have the Palestinian flag flown. Many in the meeting were dismayed when the town approved the request, but others whooped, applauded, and cheered.
Khayal later told WCVB 5: "This is what's fair. This is a representation that we've been waiting for. And it's not a victory just for me; it's a victory for Palestinians—they're the ones I'm doing this for."
North Andover Town Manager Melissa Rodrigues said a policy allowing residents to apply to fly a flag of their choice had resulted "in that flagpole being considered a public forum." Rodrigues added that a previous Supreme Court ruling involving another city and involving the right to free speech meant that: "The content or the subject matter of a flag cannot be considered when reviewing an application."
However, the town has now changed its policy and will no longer accept applications from residents to have flags raised on the common.
Khayal's application to fly the Palestinian flag was submitted on October 16, just hours before the town updated its flag policy, meaning it was considered and approved under the old rules.
The flag will be flown for a month from Tuesday, and it will be the last time a resident's choice of flag will fly above North Andover's common."
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