Federal Way flag policy change gets community pushback

A ruling to end the flying of “non-governmental flags” brought inflatable frogs and passionate speeches at the Nov. 4 meeting of the Federal Way City Council.

More than a dozen community members shared why they felt it was important to continue flying flags celebrating history and culture at City Hall, while others spoke in support of the city council’s action.

Aside from the direct for or against arguments, a secondary theme of the comments focused on the lack of thoughtfulness in the action itself. The council could have collaborated with those involved with community flag flying and the Diversity Commission, speakers pointed out, and come up with alternative ways to celebrate the history and contributions the flags represent before getting rid of them altogether.

Another theme that emerged was a calling in to the council to focus on taking action that makes a positive tangible difference for the people in Federal Way.

Federal Way City Council members passed the resolution to end the flying of any “non-governmental” flags at City Hall on Oct. 21.

Specifically, resolution 25-875 states: “The City will fly no flags in front of City Hall other than the: (1) United States flag; (2) Washington State flag; and (3) Federal Way City flag.”

Council members first discussed a flag rule change at the Oct. 14 meeting of the Parks/Recreation/Human Services and Public Safety Committee.

The city has been displaying non-governmental flags and banners at City Hall for at least 10 years, including a large 12th Man flag in support of the Seahawks football team in 2015.

At that time, the city had no official flag policy. That all changed on June 4, 2020, when an official framework was put in place.

For the last five years, that policy has designated flags at City Hall as a limited public forum and outlines what type of flags can be flown. This means the flags are reserved for “expressions of governmental speech that are non-controversial and unifying themes and must be accompanied by a Mayoral Proclamation,” according to city council documents.

In addition, the mayor could also “direct the flying of banners or flags of local and regional sports teams.”

Since that policy was instated in 2020, flags flown at the Federal Way City Hall have included the Irish flag, the Ukrainian flag, the Pride flag and the Juneteenth flag.

Councilmember Paul McDaniel expressed two main reasons for the flag policy change proposal that he brought to the council.

First, he finds flags for communities that not everyone is part of to be divisive. Several public commentors at the council meeting expressed how important flags are to them that don’t necessarily represent their individual identities.

McDaniel’s second reason for bringing forward the change in flag policy is that he finds it inappropriate that one single person (the mayor) should be responsible for deciding what the city does and does not find non-controversial and unifying.

An example of this personal preference is that Mayor Ferrell did choose to fly the Ukrainian flag, but declined to fly either the Palestinian or Israeli flag, although all three flags were requested by community members and reference active and violent international conflicts between unequal military powers.

McDaniel’s core point was that the United States flag should be enough representation, and flags at City Hall are not an appropriate way to celebrate the diversity of Federal Way.

“I’ll go back to one flag unifies us all and it allows us to have this conversation. It allows us to disagree with stuff … vote your heart. You vote what you feel is is necessary … But again, I believe that the only way to really unify us is to take away the divisive talk and the divisive actions and the divisive things. And those are the things that are causing the most egregious detriment to our society in my mind,” McDaniel said to make the case for the policy change.

Councilmember Lydia Assefa-Dawson expressed that to her, these flags bring the community together, whether they specifically belong to the part of the community the flag represents or not.

“I think my definition of divisive is different from yours, clearly, because what I’m saying is it’s inclusive,” Assefa-Dawson said, supporting the previous flag policy that allowed non-governmental flags.

She explained that it is inclusive “because something that was never recognized in the past, that was always left behind, now is saying ‘I have a voice too.’”

“We’re saying it’s okay to be who you are, or it’s okay to fly your flag here because you belong here. That’s what those flags represent to me. You belong, you’re included … what makes it divisive is really how it’s perceived by people,” Assefa-Dawson added.

McDaniel replied to her comment, saying “my response to that one would be, which one of those flags is inclusive to me?”

Public comment echoed these two perspectives on Nov. 4.

Council discussion included an idea from Coucilmember Jack Dovey to create a park in Federal Way focused on celebrating diversity as a replacement for having flags at City Hall. The idea was supported by Councilmember Susan Honda as well, but no actions were taken to work toward that or any cultural celebration to replace the flag raising.

McDaniel ultimately moved to approve the motion and Council President Linda Kochmar seconded it.

Assefa-Dawson was the single “no” vote against the flag policy change, with McDaniel, Kochmar, Honda and Dovey as well as Councilmembers Jack Walsh and Hoang Tran voting in support of it.