The City of Galesburg is considering the adoption of a policy that would regulate what flags can fly at City Hall and on other municipal flag polls. Whether that policy is restrictive or inclusive remains to be seen.
Sparked by a recent debate on whether to allow the pride flag to fly at City Hall during Pride Month, several Galesburg City Council members and the mayor have suggested the city adopt a flag policy.
This marks the third June that the City Council has approved flying the pride flag. But unlike other years, the decision did not go without debate. Initially, several council members requested that the pride flag not fly this year until an official flag policy could be adopted by the city. However, at a four-hour June 5 meeting filled with public input, the Galesburg City Council approved flying pride flag at City Hall. The pride flag also is displayed on the Public Square and at the Galesburg Welcome Center at the entrance of town on East Main Street.
Galesburg Mayor Peter Schwartzman said he’s asked two previous city managers to explore a flag policy for the city, but said the request was often “pushed to the back burner” because of other pressing issues.
“I have not done extensive research on this,” Schwartzman tells WGIL. “I know our acting city manager has begun preparing examples that we can look at.
“I would like a policy that is fair and recognizes and celebrates the wonderful diversity we have in our city and one that connects us with the larger world.”
Acting City Manager Steve Gugliotta said his office has started looking into a flag policy, but is awaiting feedback from from the mayor and the council on how to proceed.
Schwartzman said he expects the flag policy to be a work session topic later this month, and could be presented for a vote in July.
Galesburg has never had a flag policy
According to City Clerk Kelli Bennewitz, Galesburg has never had a flag policy. Although not universal, many municipalities do have flag policies, including some in Illinois.
For 11 months of the year, only the American and the state of Illinois flags are displayed at City Hall. American and state flags also fly at Galesburg’s fire stations, and there also is a POW flag at the Lincoln Park Veterans Memorial.
An internet search of “flag policies” shows more and more cities across the country are considering adopting some kind of protocol for deciding what flags fly in their municipalities.
Galesburg’s previous two city managers now serve as the top administrators at two large Illinois cities — Dane Bragg as the village manager in Buffalo Grove, and Todd Thompson as the city manager in Rock Island.
Thompson said Rock Island does not have a flag policy. He noted Rock Island does display pride flags in the downtown area in June.
The Village of Buffalo Grove adopted a flag policy in 2021. It requires and allows only government flags displayed at all public buildings. Special flags, such as the pride flag, will only be allowed at the villages’s Rotary Village Green, through an approved application process. All applications must be made annually by a resident of the village and be submitted no later than Nov. 1 of the preceding calendar year. An approved list of special flags for the upcoming year will be presented to the village board for consideration each December.
A spokesperson for the city of Peoria said they follow the Federal flag code and only display the American, State of Illinois and POW flags.
Schwartzman not only defends, but promotes flying the pride flag at City Hall.
“As the Pride resolution clarifies, there are people living in our city who endure underserved hardship and harassment just for being who they are,” Schwartzman said. “Internationally, the pride flag is an outward symbol of identity or support for those in the LGBTQIA+ community.
“I believe the majority of Galesburg residents, and many important leaders in our city, support the rights of these people.”
The mayor said the original pride flag was flown at City Hall at the suggestion of the members of Galesburg’s Community Relations Commission, who felt it was an important way to project such values in Galesburg.
Schwartzman said there are other reasons to fly non-government flags.
“I can imagine the city might fly a flag of another city or foreign nation who is undergoing some very trying circumstances,” he said. “I can imagine a flag flying to celebrate national holidays.
“These are all options that our City Council — and its constituents — will be reviewing as we create a Galesburg flag policy.”
Council members have differing views of what flags should fly
Sixth Ward council member Sarah Davis, who passionately defends flying the pride flag at City Hall, said she would be in favor of exploring an inclusive flag policy.
“I’m not super informed on flag policies, but I think it would be a good thing for the city to look into,” she said. “A policy could be helpful if it provides guidance, but it might also be too broad or too limiting in its scope.
“As far as non-governmental flags go, those representing a specific religion or a specific political party would be inappropriate for a government to fly. Beyond that, I don’t have all the answers — this is where a policy or at least guidelines would come into play.”
Steve Cheesman, Ward 7 alderman, acknowledges the flag issue is “such a difficult, complex and emotional issue. The views that people have are all across the spectrum.
“The solution to this challenge, in my opinion, is to involve all those that are passionate about this issue (on both sides), have them discuss the issue in depth and come up with a solution that works for all.”
Ward 1 alderman Bradley Hix said his preference would be to display only the American and state flags, “but since a precedent has been established I don’t think we now can deny other groups the option to have their request debated.
“We should review each request and debate whether or not the requested flag should be flown. If a majority of the council approves the flag should be flown.”
Moving forward, Schwartzman says he already is thinking about future flags that could be displayed in Galesburg.
“Given all the present challenges to our planet and its environment, I would love to see the Earth Flag flown in April,” he said. “This is just one idea. I am sure there will be many sound suggestions made by our community. Some already have been made.”
