Sacramento Mayor Darrell Steinberg.(Photo: cityofsacramento.org)
Sacramento Mayor Steinberg Calls for Repeal of Old City Ordinance to Stand, Salute During National Anthem
A lawsuit in search of a problem facilitated the repeal
By Katy Grimes, July 8, 2020 7:34 am
Sacramento Mayor Darrell Steinberg announced he will call for a repeal of the City “requirement” to stand and salute during the National Anthem. “There is simply no place today for such required displays of allegiance,” Steinberg said.
The repeal issue was precipitated by a federal lawsuit in search of an actual legal problem, filed against the city by a Las Vegas man who says he is afraid he could be arrested if he refuses to stand for the song at future Sacramento Kings games, the Sacramento Bee reported.
The ordinance was adopted in 1928 at the request of the Veterans of Foreign Wars as part of a package of protocols on handling the flag following World War l, and merely said Sacramentans should stand and salute the American flag during performances of The Star-Spangled Banner.
“Mayor Darrell Steinberg Tuesday called on his colleagues to join him in repealing the City ordinance that requires people to stand and salute the flag when the national anthem is played at ceremonies and ‘at the close of concerts, theaters, etc.,’” his office reported.
“This antiquated statute is particularly offensive given the recent proud actions of athletes and others taking a knee when the anthem is played,” Steinberg said. “Principled protest is the epitome of patriotism.” But apparently standing for the National Anthem is not?
Here is the triggering, offensive language of the ordinance:
The song, “The Star-Spangled Banner,” is recognized as the national anthem of the United States. When this music is played on a proper occasion during ceremonials, at the close of concerts, theaters, etc., all present shall stand at attention, facing, or, if no flag is displayed, facing the music, and shall render the salute to the flag.”
“The suit contends that the portion of the city code on how to behave during the playing of the anthem is ‘unconstitutional on its face’ and seeks a permanent injunction to halt it from being enforced.”
The lawsuit “says that following the city’s requirement ‘would create the false impression’ that he disapproves of others who kneel during the song to protest racial injustice.”
Mayor Steinberg’s main default decision is capitulation to the screaming masses, whether it is the Black Lives Matter rioters demanding the defunding of the police, calls for police use-of-force “reforms,” or when he takes a knee to appease protesters, or when addresses rioters at Cesar Chavez Park following the killing of George Floyd, or providing new trailers to the homeless.
“From the way this is worded, I’m guessing it’s even older than me, and that’s plenty old,” a commenter said on the Sacramento Bee article. “Of course it should be repealed, but I suspect whoever introduced this and voted for it is long gone. So untwist your underwear, folks, and let the plaintiff and lawyer have their fun and 15 minutes of fame. It also requires saluting and I doubt some of you would even know how to do that.”
Mayor Steinberg said he would place the proposed recall on the agenda of the next City Council meeting on July 28.
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It baffles me that with all the terrible issues going on that they wouldn’t just table this for another day. By then it wouldn’t even come up again most likely!
All of these lefty Democrat and RINO politicians have one thing in common, LACK OF CHARACTER.
Amen! And lack of allegiance to the country for which they swore an oath to. They all should resign!!
SHAME ON YOU STEINBERG! SHOULDN’T YOU AND YOUR CITY COUNCIL BE DOING SOMETHING TO BENEFIT YOUR CITY LIKE PROTECTING IT FROM RIOTERS AND THUGS? BUT NO YOU WANT TO PLEASE YOUR BLACK LIVES MATTER THUG FRIENDS! THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO LIVED IN YOUR CITY WHO HAVE DIED ON THE BATTLEFIELD DEFENDING OUR FLAG. AS THERE ARE MANY MORE IN YOUR CITY WHO FOUGHT FOR OUR COUNTRY WITH COURAGE, SOMETHING YOU OBVIOUSLY DON’T HAVE! HAVE SOME RESPECT FOR THESE PEOPLE AND RESPECT FOR OUR COUNTRY AND FLAG! I DOUBT YOU HAVE THE INTELLIGENCE TO READ THE CALIFORNIA GLOBE BUT MAYBE SOMEONE WILL FORWARD THIS ARTICLE TO YOU. STEINBERG IS A COWARD AND A WIMP!
Right, Darrell Steinberg has always been known as someone who stands up for PRINCIPLES!
What a joke.
J. Ewwwwww!
The fascist governor requires everyone to “salute” him by wearing useless masks. I would rather salute old Glory.
Wow! Just…. Wow!
Guess he missed history classes that taught how the military fought for ALL of our freedoms.
Steinberg needs to move to Yemen and see how he likes living without any freedom!
Amen, all for that and he can take Gov. Nuisance and other lefties with him.
NO! We need to stand tall and proud!!!
I bet they’ll require standing and saluting when the Mexican flag is raised and their national anthem played.