Galesburg City Council on Monday night voted to fly the Respect Life flag in October at city hall, but the Council clearly favors a flag policy.
That flag policy would likely only allow the flying of the American and Illinois state flags.
The vote was 5 yeses, 2 nos, with Sarah Davis and Dwight White opposed.
Sixth Ward Council member Sarah Davis says that Right to Life, which was part of the collective that asked for the flying, is an organization affiliated with religion and right-wing politics and therefore shouldn’t be flown.
Fifth Ward Member Heather Acerra countered that Right to Life is not necessarily religiously affiliated. Acerra added that Respect Life goes beyond just being anti-abortion but supporting handicapped individuals and those at the end of life.
This issue was put on the agenda by City Manager John Schlaf at the request of two separate individuals in the community.
Ward Four Alderman Dwight White says he didn’t want this issue to come up and wishes the city already had a flag policy that didn’t allow any special interest flags.
White says he’s not against Right to Life but allowing any flag to be flown at city hall is a “slippery slope.”
Ward 7 Alderman Steve Cheesman says he agrees that a flag policy needs to be developed immediately, but feels he had to support the flying of this flag in the meantime.
Cheesman says the issue isn’t about abortion necessarily, but being fair to Right to Life after flying the LGBTQIA Pride flag in June.
City Attorney Jason Jording says there are two ways to consider city hall, either as a public forum or speech.
The way Galesburg had done flag resolutions in the past acted as government speech, which means the council is protected in deciding what flags be flown or fly none at all.