Latest news with #AppealtoHeaven
Yahoo
21-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Activists fly conservative flag at Boise City Hall. Mayor McLean responds
Far-right activists covered two flags at Boise City Hall that have become the source of controversy, and added a flag linked with conservative movements. The mayor showed up on Sunday morning to remove the protesters' flag herself. A two-minute video posted at 8:14 a.m. to social media by activist Casey Whalen shows locals known for their far-right views, including David Pettinger, placing a ladder against the City Hall flagpoles while the sky is still dark. Pettinger wears dark clothing as the 'Mission: Impossible' movie theme song plays. A figure in the video adds an 'Appeal to Heaven' flag to one of the poles before covering two existing flags with what appeared to be black plastic bags. The Appeal to Heaven flag dates back to the American Revolution. The once obscure flag has in recent years become associated with President Donald Trump's 'Stop the Steal' movement in 2020-21 and those who want to insert more religion into government, according to the New York Times. The two covered flags were the Pride flag, and a Donate Life flag that supports a nonprofit that raises awareness about the importance of organ donation. Those flags have become a recent target for Republican ire after House Bill 96 — which allows government entities to display only certain official flags, such as the American flag, state flag, city flag and military flags — became law on April 4. Boise Mayor Lauren McLean has stood firm in her decision to keep the Pride and Donate Life flags flying, despite threats from Idaho Attorney General Raúl Labrador that she might be putting city funding at risk. McLean appeared in front of City Hall at about 11 a.m. and quickly removed the 'Appeal to Heaven' flag and uncovered the two others, according to video footage. The Mayor's Office did not immediately respond to the Idaho Statesman's request for comment Sunday. Because the legislation did not include a provision for enforcement or penalties, law enforcement has said there is little they can do to enforce this law. 'Without clear direction in the law, no law enforcement in the state of Idaho has the authority to issue citations or make arrests in this situation,' Ada County Sheriff Matt Clifford said in an emailed statement on Wednesday. 'This situation highlights the importance of thoughtful collaboration in the legislative process. I strongly urge Idaho legislators to work closely with subject matter experts when drafting legislation to ensure that future statutes are clearly enforceable and contain the necessary legal structure to support their implementation.' Boise police appeared to toe a similar line on Sunday. Boise resident Pam Hemphill once joined Pettinger and other conservative activists in protest incidents like Sunday's. She's since come to reject them and many of her previously held beliefs following her arrest for participating in the violent attack on the U.S. Capitol building on Jan. 6, 2021. Hemphill said she hurried to City Hall on Sunday and called police to report the flag incident. 'It's not the Pride flag, it's freedom,' Hempgill told the Statesman. 'Freedom to love who you want, be who you are. That's America. It just hurts that these people are being picked on so much.' The Whalen video used audio of Hemphill joking about the possibility of activists getting arrested for removing the Pride flag. In a video shared with the Idaho Statesman, a Boise police officer tells Hemphill that he won't take action against those who participated. 'What we've been instructed to do is we're not taking any enforcement action on flying the flag or taking it down,' the officer said. The Boise Police Department did not immediately respond to the Idaho Statesman's request for comment Sunday.
Yahoo
22-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Idaho lawmakers have introduced several license plate bills. It's quite a wide variety
Idaho lawmakers have introduced several license plate bills this year — from a new 'Too Great for Hate' plate to options associated with the conservative movement to two potato plates. Among the new options for vehicle owners could be 'An Appeal to Heaven' plate. Also, the existing Gadsden flag plate could be available for more vehicles. 'I think my kid has the ski one on his car right now. He's a big skier and I think it's a way for people to generally have their expressions,' said Rep. Josh Tanner, R-Eagle, who co-sponsored the Appeal to Heaven bill. The potato plate (one black and white, one white and teal) would 'pay tribute to Idaho's iconic crop,' according to Rep. Douglas Pickett, R-Oakley, the sponsor. Specialty plate bills can become controversial, for a variety of reasons, and don't always make it through the legislative process. Some legislators over the years have voted against every specialty plate on principle. One of this year's specialty potato plates, for example, drew concern about its coloring. Some lawmakers and one member of the public said the white and teal might look too much like Washington state's plate. 'I assure you the last thing our Northern Idahoans want is to be labeled a Washingtonian,' said Katherine Kirk, Idaho Heritage Trust executive director, during a public hearing. Despite the concerns, the Senate Transportation Committee sent it to the floor with a do-pass recommendation. The Appeal to Heaven plate is a reference to a flag dating to the time of the American Revolution that has taken on conservative symbolism in recent years, according to The New York Times. The flag flew on ships under George Washington's command, according to The Associated Press. The design is now associated with groups who want to insert more religion into government, who support President Donald Trump and in part of the 'Stop The Steal' movement in 2020-21, when Trump lost the presidential election, The Times reported. None of that is why he wanted the plate, Tanner told the Statesman. He said the goal was to symbolize America's values from over two centuries ago. 'We do need more God, in a sense, in everybody's life, but this is not the intention of we're doing this,' Tanner said. 'I'd run a Trump flag if it was for Trump. That has nothing to do with it.' Idaho's plate would have a pine tree, 'An Appeal to Heaven' on the bottom and Idaho on the top. The Gadsden flag also originated around the time of the American Revolution, and later became associated with the right-wing populism of the Tea Party movement, according to Britannica. Some view it as having racist undertones, according to Britannica. This year's bill clarifies the image of the license plate: bright yellow, with the image of a rattlesnake in the center and the words 'Don't Tread on Me' on the bottom. Lawmakers first approved the Gadsden plate last year, according to previous Statesman reporting. This also isn't the first time legislators have tried to create a 'Too Great for Hate' option for drivers. In 2020, the Idaho Legislature killed an attempt on its final vote of the session, according to previous Statesman reporting. The year before, the bill passed the Senate but never got a hearing in the House. If any of these bills pass, it's up to Idahoans whether they want them. Tanner said he has the specialty Idaho Capitol plate on his car. 'I like that plate. I don't know, I might get this one when my registration is up,' Tanner said, referring to the Appeal to Heaven plate.
