Centralia Mayor Susan Luond at Tuesday night’s city council meeting apologized that her comments in a recent Chronicle story about gifted pride flags offended people, saying that she was not attempting to compare the pride flags and white supremacist flags when she used the latter as an example of why the city didn’t plan on flying an inclusive rainbow flag outside city hall.
Luond detailed her perception of the phone interaction with the reporter and attempted to clarify the meaning of her comments shortly before the public comment period, saying she was going to “apologize for The Chronicle.”
She did not offer an apology for her comments, though.
No comments from the public were given on the issue at the meeting.
“I am sorry the article upset people. This should have never happened. I was not comparing the two groups as like-kind groups, but to show the very different types of groups that may want the same consideration. I would never do that, and I’m sorry The Chronicle took these means to do what they did and upset the group of people that they upset,” Luond said.
She added it was unfair that Centralia’s newspaper of record published her comments, but she didn’t question the veracity or accuracy of the reporting. Luond declined to speak to The Chronicle following the meeting or answer any questions on the subject.
On June 15, The Chronicle ran a story about the Lewis County Lollipop Guild’s gifting of several rainbow-striped flags to local city halls in recognition of Pride Month. Some city officials said they wanted to fly them while others said they wouldn’t. The group’s efforts to spread inclusive messaging and support has been met with some pushback from unidentifiable assailants who have damaged or removed signs and flags.
Both Luond and Chehalis Mayor Dennis Dawes said it was unlikely the flag would be flown at their city halls, but Luond took her comments a step further when asked multiple questions about the city’s reaction to the Lollipop Guild’s campaign.
Luond said she felt “a little offended and a lot annoyed” when the reporter asked if the city still had the flag during the phone call.
“I asked her how she would feel if a white supremacist group wanted us to fly a flag. I asked her this question. ‘What about that? Would you be offended? We just do not go there as a rule. We’re not making any judgement, any statements. We just do not do it,’” she said.
Chronicle Editor-in-Chief Eric Schwartz said he was both perplexed and amused by the mayor’s comments.
“While it’s kind of the mayor to offer an apology on our behalf, it’s wholly unnecessary,” he said. “The reporter reached out to multiple city halls, and all but Luond were happy to address the topic. It’s unfortunate that the mayor hung up on the reporter after a few minutes of the same simple questioning that others offered thoughtful answers to. Had she not, it’s likely the reporter would have had more to go on than a clumsy comparison to a white supremacist flag.”
Cities are legally allowed to fly flags with messaging and symbols, though there exists exceptions for commercial and advertisement usage.
“Signs, banners or flags of a civic nature or deemed to be a benefit to the community are allowed to be placed on publicly owned appurtenances located on public rights-of-way with the written approval of the city manager,” reads Centralia’s city code.
Toledo Councilor Emily Owen Morgan previously told The Chronicle she didn’t think it would be a problem for them to raise their donated rainbow flag since they had a pro-law enforcement flag hanging in city hall.
“I would be very happy to see a pride flag flown in town,” she said.
