City of Columbia passes policy banning nonauthorized flags on city-owned property

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COLUMBIA, S.C. (WIS) - Columbia City Council passed a policy limiting the types of flags allowed on city-owned flag poles during a council meeting on Tuesday.

The event comes exactly one year after the city of Columbia raised a blue and white flag in front of City Hall that read “WE STAND WITH ISRAEL.”

The type of flags authorized to be flown on city-owned property include:

• United States flag
• South Carolina state flag
• City of Columbia flag

City officials included that the policy does not apply to private property owned by citizens or property owned/controlled by federal, state, county, or school district entities.

Documentation on the policy said it was put in place to provide “clear, consistent standards for the display of flags on City property and City maintained rights-of-way.”

The document said all of the flagpoles are designated exclusively for government speech.

“Flag displays communicate the City’s official governmental messages, value, and identity via shared civic symbols, all of which the City strives to ensure represent all residents regardless of race, religion, or political affiliation,” the policy reads.

The policy adjustment was voted 6-1. Mayor Daniel Rickenmann was the opposing vote.

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