HARRISBURG, Pa. — Members of the Palestinian community were left frustrated and confused after Harrisburg city workers removed thousands of Palestinian flags that were placed during a peaceful demonstration on Saturday.
Over the weekend, members of the Palestinian community met at the State Capitol steps, calling for a ceasefire in Gaza before marching down to the governor’s mansion where Front Street was decorated with a sea of Palestinian flags.
People planted more than 20,000 flags, which were meant to represent each Palestinian killed in the Israel-Hamas war.
According to Harrisburg city officials, this violated Section 3-361.2 of the city’s code, which states in part “the attaching of posters, signs, placards, etc., to any public property and privately owned utility poles…is hereby prohibited within the city.”
The city also reportedly received multiple complaints about where the flags were planted.
Flags were reported near or in proximity to the Holocaust memorial as well as four synagogues, though it’s unknown if demonstrators placed those flags near those structures on purpose.
Harrisburg public work employees removed the flags Sunday night under the supervision of city police.
Palestinian group members called it a “breach of First Amendment rights.”
In a formal statement, the City responded in part, “The City of Harrisburg endorses and supports any form of peaceful protest, and this case was no different. However, if a protest or rally is to take place, we ask participants to promote clean city parks and follow city code to ensure everyone can be heard in a safe manner.”
