Muslim-led Michigan city bans Pride flags after heated council meeting
Sure, many Hamtramck residents have fled countries where being gay is a death sentence, but nothing says we have to make it comforting and welcoming here. While we can’t legally discriminate against LGBTQ people in the United States anymore, the City of Hamtramck can say, “Ew, no, be proud somewhere else.”
You guys are welcome. … (but) why do you have to have the flag shown on government property to be represented? You’re already represented. We already know who you are. … By making this (about) bigotry … it’s making it like you want to hate us.
For those politicians who don’t understand the situation in Hamtramck but they released statements to criticize us for passing… you do not know our city more than we do, and you will not know the consequences of opening the door for every group to fly their flag on city properties. Our residents are all equally important to us, and we will continue to serve them equally without discrimination, favoritism or preferential treatment to any group. The city government will stay NEUTRAL and IMPARTIAL toward its residents.
Dear Residents of Hamtramak:
In the coming days, you will notice strangers demonstrating in your city and disturbing the public peace by provoking you with their actions and behaviors. I ask everyone to commit to calmness, wisdom, and not to friction with them, and I also ask everyone not to incite against one another, and not to vandalize private property whatever it may be, and not to trespass on public property or use it for one party against another.
The strangers will leave, and you will stay in your city, build and shape it as you wish.
Hate speech and incitement used by some groups and ignite the former centers of influence in the city to increase division and chaos in the city after the current government achieved financial reforms and development that the previous government failed to achieve during almost two decades, now they are trying to create chaos, division and disrupt security in the city.