Natick officials vote against hanging peace flags on light poles

NATICK, Mass. — Town officials in Natick voted unanimously to not allow rainbow peace flags to hang from public light poles.

“The message is, everyone's included in this community, everyone can feel safe and loved, whether you're LGBTQ, a person of color, a Muslim or any other kind of minority,” said Rev. Ian Mevorach with Natick’s Common Street Spiritual Center.

Mevorach is part of Natick’s new peace flag project, inspired after acts of discrimination against an interracial couple, and anti-Semitic messages in a middle school. After distributing the flags around town - he and others asked town officials if they could also hang from empty downtown light poles in winter, when American flags aren't being used.

“The request was in the meantime, can we put rainbow peace flags on those same brackets, about 48 in total,” he said.

“What would be wrong with thinking that a town is okay with that?” said Giumel DeCarvalho, a resident of Natick.

DeCarvalho and her partner advocated for the flags, which they believe might have been misconstrued as solely standing for gay rights.

“Seeing them in the aftermath of the hateful acts that have happened in Natick made me feel safe,” she said.

Despite the town officials’ decision, that won’t stop the supporters. Hundreds of more flags were delivered Wednesday and Mevorach says they'll be appearing outside homes and businesses all over the city, their message loud and clear.

“The point of our project is to spread peace and love,” said Mevorach.

Town officials say it's not discrimination, it's a legal conundrum, saying if they endorse these flags, they must allow any other group a similar opportunity.

FOX25 emailed and left messages with the board of selectmen who unanimously voted last night to ban flags like this. But so far, town officials have refused to comment but did tell supporters the light poles are only meant for American flags.

Cox Media Group