{"id":38725,"date":"2025-05-15T22:21:44","date_gmt":"2025-05-16T03:21:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/unitedresourceconnection.org\/cannon-ball-nd-58528\/banner-discussion-highlights-vastly-different-american-experiences\/"},"modified":"2025-05-15T22:21:46","modified_gmt":"2025-05-16T03:21:46","slug":"banner-discussion-highlights-vastly-different-american-experiences","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/unitedresourceconnection.org\/cannon-ball-nd-58528\/banner-discussion-highlights-vastly-different-american-experiences\/","title":{"rendered":"Banner discussion highlights vastly different American experiences"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Muffie Mousseau speaking at Rapid City Council. Photo from Rapid City livestream.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

RAPID CITY \u2013 Rapid City residents rallied to protect the right to display the pride flag and other banners that represent their multiculturalism and freedom of expression. The issue was on the City Council agenda at the last regular meeting on April 21, put there by Mayor Jason Salamun who said he was concerned about meeting the decision made by the Supreme Court regarding banners on government property. In the final decision, the Council approved the restriction of downtown banners to official government property and communications and a select few organizations.<\/p>\n

\u201cI want flags and banners to remain neutral,\u201d explained Salamun. \u201cA lot of people want messages on flags and banners throughout our city, including our wonderful non-profits.\u201d He noted that he wanted to fulfil a recent Supreme Court ruling. \u201cYou either open it up to all which is really difficult to manage, or you restrict it with government speech. So, honoring your military, using the flag,\u201d he motioned to the flag on display in chambers, \u201cthey\u2019re distinguishing that they are for city and government purposes versus everybody else.\u201d<\/p>\n

But the debate over the resolution has sparked significant concern among Rapid City residents. Many fear that the policy is inspired by hate for the LGBTQ+ community and indigenous messages, specifically those from NDN Collective. The resolution\u2019s timing and lack of clarity have raised questions about its true intent and potential consequences.<\/p>\n

Cynthia Grace, a lifelong resident of Rapid City, passionately spoke out against the removal of these banners, emphasizing their importance in representing the city\u2019s diverse cultures. Grace argued that taking down the pride flag is akin to removing stars and stripes from the national flag, which would harm the country and its citizens.<\/p>\n

Uniting Resilience co-founder Muffie Mousseau, echoed Grace\u2019s sentiments. She said she and her wife retired here 20 years ago. \u201cWe are Lakota of the Oceti Sakowin, and we are a part of this territory just as much as you are. We appreciate you.\u201d She highlighted the significance of allowing growth and change within the community.\u201d<\/p>\n

She said the Constitution is designed to protect \u201cthe old, rich, white man and I see a lot of old, rich, white men up there.\u201d Some audience members could be heard off-mic, chuckling. \u201cI didn\u2019t say that to get a laugh. We deserve our freedom of expression. There\u2019s a lot of your relatives that have committed suicide because they could not freely express themselves,\u201d she said, looking directly at the council. \u201cMe and my wife are going to be here. Our banner is the pride flag, the trans flag, the Lakota flag with the red, white, black and yellow. I want to get along,\u201d she said as she urged council to vote against the resolution. \u00a0<\/p>\n

Felipa De Leon, co-founder of Uniting Resilience, emphasized the importance of public banners in representing the diverse population of Rapid City and warned that the policy could lead to litigation against the city.<\/p>\n

On behalf of the Black Hills Center for Equality (BHCE) Renee Haglund, highlighted the constitutional implications of the proposed ordinance. Haglund referenced a Supreme Court ruling that prohibits the government from discriminating against speech based on the speaker\u2019s viewpoint. She questioned the intent of the policy and called for a fair and transparent process for banner usage agreements.<\/p>\n

\u201cIn 1995 the Supreme Court acknowledged that the government sometimes needs to limit forums it creates to certain groups or certain topics but also ruled that once a government has opened a limited forum like those banners it may not discriminate against speech on the basis of the speaker\u2019s viewpoint. That case informs our view of this proposed ordinance. In this case the city is not restricting the use of these banners solely for governmental speech \u2013 the ordinance states that banners will be reserved for governmental messaging or a banner that is placed by an organization pursuant to a valid agreement with the city that has been entered into based upon the provisions of the city ordinance consistent with the intent of this policy. What is the intent of this policy? and why now?\u201d she asked. \u201cWhich organization will the city allow to use the banners and who will be denied? What is the criteria for an agreement with the city? Will that criteria be made publicly available and which steps does the city plan to take in order to ensure a fair and transparent process? This ordinance could lead to litigation against the city.\u201d<\/p>\n

She said the city\u2019s role is to serve as the citizen\u2019s voice in shaping city laws. She noted the diverse population of Rapid City includes LGBTQ + and Two-Spirit communities. \u201cThis city does not belong to Jesus,\u201d said Haglund, referencing words spoken by the pastor who gave the standard Christian invocation which comes before the Pledge of Allegiance. \u201cIt belongs to its citizens. It belongs to its school children. It belongs to its educators. It belongs to its healthcare providers. It belongs to its taxpayers. It belongs to its voters.\u201d<\/p>\n

Former alderman Patti Martinson noted on her way to the meeting, she saw a banner downtown advertising April being child abuse awareness month. \u201cNow that seems to be mentioning something of an agenda, even though it\u2019s an agenda I think most of the people in this room would support.\u201d She said the word \u201cagenda\u201d is mentioned in the policy but is very general about which agendas are acceptable. The policy does specifically mention the School of Mines. She said this isn\u2019t the only educational institute in the area and asked why Mines is being singled out as an exception. The policy also mentions veterans. Martinson asked which veteran\u2019s group\u2019s agendas would be acceptable.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis policy is not very well thought out, is poorly written and seems to be reactionary to a complaint by someone or something.\u201d<\/p>\n

Martinson\u2019s implication was addressed head on by Rapid City resident and South Dakota native Ben Sherman, who noted on his Meta page that the change was inspired by \u201cupper caste fears over indigenous messages.\u201d Specifically, the Rapid City vs Racism and Land Back campaigns championed by NDN Collective. \u201cThis resolution seems to be inspired by hate for the LGBT community\u201d he said to council. \u201cWe all know that we have leadership that is not afraid to blur or even cross the lines between the separation of church and state. But dear City Council, all of you have the power here. We need you to stand up for the rights of all citizens, for the freedom of expression for all citizens, for democracy and the American experiment.\u201d He said the passage of the resolution sends a chilling message to anyone who is not a \u201cwhite male or Christian.\u201d He noted that the resolution does play favorites, with carve-outs for Mines and the Veterans Honor Banner Project.<\/p>\n

\u201cI know that things are moving towards fascism, but Rapid City does not have to go along for the ride. We can be a beacon of liberty. These banners mean so much more to the indigenous and queer people in Rapid City. They are a sign or a message of awareness. We get to see a banner that goes up for a week that shows that we have a place in this community, that we are wanted in this community,\u201d Sherman concluded.<\/p>\n

Other speakers suggested that the resolution needs to be more definitive. Resident Ann Hatch asked for more time to review and ask for public input.<\/p>\n

City attorney Joel Landeen, responding to questions from Alderman Lindsey Seachris, said there is nothing that requires the city to make the banners a public forum but if they do, then they are a part of the public forum, and the city would rent them out and put messages on them that the city would have no control over.<\/p>\n

Alderman Bill Evans expressed what some other council members thought when the item came before the Legal and Finance Committee. He said the discussion was mainly about cost and he hadn\u2019t seen anything nefarious about the resolution. \u201cBut now that I Iook at the resolution, I can see what so many of our constituents are concerned about. This could easily be weaponized depending on who is sitting in these seats.\u201d He said that the item should be further discussed. \u201cIt\u2019s generic in such a way it could be distorted and weaponized to hurt people and I don\u2019t like that idea.\u201d<\/p>\n

Evans explained he would like to table the issue and create a committee but resignedly said that won\u2019t happen. \u201cI know I\u2019ll never get the votes so I\u2019m just going to vote no on this instead.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ward 5 aldermen Pat Roseland and Rod Pettigrew and Bill Evans from Ward 2 voted no. Ward 3 aldermen Keven Maher, Greg Strommen, Ward 1 aldermen Josh Bieberdorf and Jesse Ham, Lindsey Seachris from Ward 2 and John Roberts and Lance Lehman from Ward 4 voted yes.<\/p>\n

Ben Sherman had reminded the audience both online and in chambers to vote in the upcoming June 3 city elections. \u201cThis is how fascism starts at the local level.\u201d<\/p>\n

(Contact Marnie Cook cookm8715@gmail.com)<\/p>\n

The post Banner discussion highlights vastly different American experiences<\/a> first appeared on Native Sun News Today<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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Muffie Mousseau speaking at Rapid City Council. Photo from Rapid City livestream. RAPID CITY \u2013 Rapid City residents rallied to protect the right to display the pride flag and other banners that represent their multiculturalism and freedom of expression. The issue was on the City Council agenda at the last <\/p>\n

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Shared by Native Sun News Today<\/a> May 15, 2025<\/p>\n

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