In a show of solidarity with the Palestinian community and to honor the lives lost in the Israel-Hamas war, a California city is set to raise the Palestinian flag. The flag-raising ceremony will take place on Friday at Eaton Plaza in downtown Fresno, organized by City Councilmember Miguel Arias.
According to Arias’ office, this event follows a previous flag-raising ceremony at Eaton Plaza in October, which aimed to show solidarity with Israel after the attack by Hamas terrorists. The timing of the latest flag-raising coincides with the start of the Jewish holiday of Hanukkah.
This is not the first time a Palestinian flag has been raised in a US city. Last month, North Andover, Massachusetts, permitted the flying of a Palestinian flag on the Town Common for a month. Similarly, Worcester, Massachusetts, raised a Palestinian flag outside City Hall for a week in October.
Fresno’s Eaton Plaza is designated for community flag-raising events, eliminating the need for approval from the City Council or city manager. However, in May 2023, the board initiated a new flag ordinance limiting the flags that can be flown at county facilities. The ordinance specifies that only the flags of the United States of America and the State of California are permitted to be flown on official flagpoles at county facilities.
The introduction of this ordinance was in response to objections from local religious and political conservatives regarding the raising of the pride flag at Fresno City Hall in 2021.
The Palestinian flag is scheduled to be raised at Eaton Plaza on Friday at 2:30 p.m. City Councilmember Arias’ office has declined to comment, and other City Council members have not responded to requests for comment.
The raising of the Palestinian flag in California highlights the ongoing support and solidarity shown by communities towards the Palestinian cause.
