San Leandro mayor halts plans to raise China flag Oct. 1
Source: Hayward Daily Review
The mayor of San Leandro on Thursday ground to a halt the city's controversial plans to raise the flag of the People's Republic of China on Oct. 1.
"San Leandro does not fly the flags of other nations at our City Hall. We need to call a 'time out' and allow the community to weigh in on whether or not we should raise the flags of other governments," Mayor Stephen Cassidy said in a statement that acknowledged the move may disappoint some.
The request, made by Chinese-American Councilman Benny Lee, was approved by the City Council Monday in a 4-3 vote. Lee declined to comment on the mayor's action Thursday.
Human rights activists had rallied outside City Hall on Monday, saying raising the flag would signal the city condones the Chinese government's crimes against the Tibetans and others. Lee said he asked to raise the flag on National Day Oct. 1 -- a day that honors the 1949 creation of the sovereign state by communist leader Mao Zedong -- as a sign of support for local Chinese residents and as a sign the city is open for Chinese business and investment.
Read more: http://www.insidebayarea.com/breaking-news/ci_24134579/san-leandro-mayor-halts-plans-raise-china-flag
