"If 'XYZ' group comes in and we think they're subversive to the USA or stand for something anti-American, we can say we don't want it."
"But, as policy makers, those things would be individually considered by council," he said. Mayor James Anzaldi said the Right to Life group could approach the City or southern natives could ask that the Confederate flag be flown in honor of their heritage. "I think it's problematic for the City and opens us up to possible litigation in the future," Gibson said of the possibility that groups like the Ku Klux Klan could approach the City as a result of a new precedent.īeginning his remarks with the disclaimer that he has no objections to the gay rights group, Hatala echoed his colleagues' comments and, along with Gibson and Grabowski, recommended the council create a committee to set guidelines which clearly illustrate what groups qualify.Ĭouncilwoman Lauren Murphy said the governing body was informed before the vote that the decision could lead to hate groups "flying their flags" at City Hall, but said the process would still be handled case by case. He said that honor should only be reserved for countries, nations or states, a tradition which began in Clifton in the 1950s. Gibson said he has "no beef" with the group but expressed qualms the City would be heading down "the wrong path" by allowing organizations to raise flags. Grabowski, who prefaced his decision was not a reflection of his feelings about advocacy group Garden State Equality or the LGBT community, suggested the Council consider the June 25 event under a separate "celebrations" category which would be held in a different area of the City Hall campus and be judged on a case-by-case basis. I don't think we should disallow anybody but this is a celebration of gay pride month so I don't think it fits into the same category. "What they're asking for is changing the complete scope of this and moving it into other areas. "The City has always held them for nationalities, for countries, out of respect and celebration of their culture," Grabowski said during the June 8 work session. Councilmen Bill Gibson, Ray Grabowski and Steve Hatala, leery of the repercussions, pointed to the possibility of hate groups requesting similar ceremonies if Clifton permitted any organizations to participate that were not presenting flags representing countries or states. The vote was not unanimous, however, with three dissenting voices. CLIFTON - Just days before the deadliest mass shooting in America's history left scores dead at a Florida gay bar, the City's governing body voted to break precedent and allow a rainbow flag to fly at Clifton City Hall on gay pride day later this month.