A Michigan city with an all-Muslim council that made waves by banning LGBTQ+ Pride flags on public buildings has fired two members of a city commission for violating the new law.
Hamtramck, with a population of 27,000, is an enclave surrounded by Detroit. More than 40 percent of residents were born in other countries, according to the US Census Bureau, and a significant portion are of Yemeni or Bangladeshi descent.
On Tuesday, the council unanimously approved removing Russ Gordon and Cathy Stackpoole from the Hamtramck Human Rights Commission for flying the rainbow flag on a public sidewalk, with one member saying they “defied the rule of law.”
It became the first city in the United States to have a majority Muslim population in 2015, and in January 2022, it became the first to have an all-Muslim city council and mayor in Amer Ghalib.
In mid-June, the council voted to ban LGBTQ+ flags on flagpoles on public property after a tense hour-long meeting that raised questions about discrimination, religion and the city’s reputation for welcoming newcomers. .
A Michigan city with an all-Muslim council that made waves by banning LGBTQ+ Pride flags on public buildings has fired two members of a city commission for violating the new law.
They also unanimously approved a ban on the commission flying flags on city property.
‘This Council believes in fairness, neutrality towards our residents and the rule of law, among other things for this community. We recently passed a resolution to do just that, and two of our sworn commissioners roundly defied it and did what they wanted,’ said Councilor Khalil Refai. foxnews.
Gordon was the chairman of the commission, the purpose of which is ‘promote mutual understanding and respect for multiculturalism and diversity, advocate for peace and justice, and foster tolerance and constructive communication.’
“You are welcome,” councilor Nayeem Choudhury said when the flag ban was voted on. ‘(But) why do you have to display the flag on government property to be represented? You are already represented. We already know who you are.
Some members of the council of Muslims said the pride flag conflicts with the beliefs of some members of their faith. Businesses and residents are not prohibited from displaying a pride flag on their property.
“We want to respect the religious rights of our citizens,” Choudhury said.
The council voted unanimously to display just five flags, including the American flag, the Michigan flag and one representing the home countries of immigrant residents.
Ghalib made the flag a campaign issue when then-Mayor Karen Majewski flew one on city property in 2021.
On Tuesday, the council unanimously approved the removal of Russ Gordon (pictured) and Cathy Stackpoole from the Hamtramck Human Rights Commission for flying the rainbow flag on a public sidewalk, with one member saying they “defied the state of right”.
‘This Council believes in fairness, neutrality towards our residents and the rule of law, among other things for this community. We recently passed a resolution to do just that, and two of our sworn commissioners roundly defied it and did what they wanted,” said Council Member Khalil Refai.
Mayor Amer Ghalib said the city would not fly flags unrelated to the United States or veterans’ causes.
Some members of the council of Muslims said the Pride flag conflicts with the beliefs of some members of their faith. Businesses and residents are not prohibited from displaying a Pride flag on their property.
“We serve everyone equally without discrimination but without favouritism,” he said.
Ghalib and the city council, which is all-Muslim, have gone wild in their first two years in office.
In January, the city council voted to allow religious animal sacrifices in the home, with Ghalib citing religious freedom.
Two months later, the city passed a resolution supporting Palestine and opposing military aid to ‘all repressive governments’.
Hayley Cain said she chose to live in Hamtramck after moving from California because it was known as a diverse community.
I wonder if it is. … The Pride flag represents making room for all humans on all spectrums, and that’s where we’re going as a human species,’ Cain said. ‘You can’t stop that.’
Dawud Walid, director of the Michigan branch of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, a civil rights advocacy group, said Hamtramck’s strict flag policy does not discriminate against anyone.
“If there was a group that was not granted access to something while others were, we would have a problem,” Walid said.
He said that some Muslims who oppose an LGBTQ+ flag are no different than conservative members of other religions with similar views.
Ghalib and the city council, which is all-Muslim, have ruffled feathers in their first two years in office.
Just last week, Ghalib criticized an unknown person for throwing a Pride flag in the trash after former Mayor Karen Majewski found it in the trash. Majewski made a Facebook post hoping Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s new LGBTQ+ task force would ‘look into’ the new flag bill
‘Flags carry symbolism. Those symbols convey social and political messages,” Walid said.
“Clearly you are ignorant, hateful or spiteful,” said one transgender speaker.
Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signed legislation in March codifying LGBTQ protections into the state’s civil rights law, permanently banning discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity in the state.
Majewski wrote on Facebook when the bill was proposed that he hoped Whitmer’s LGBTQ+ task force would “take a look at this and keep it in mind when the state of Michigan makes decisions about grants and other funding.”
Detroit City FC, a professional soccer team that draws thousands of fans to games in Hamtramck, called the council’s decision “inexcusable.”
“Pride flags send a powerful message that everyone is welcome and that the community values diversity,” the team said on Twitter.
DailyMail.com has contacted Governor Whitmer for comment.
