A History of the Pride Flag at Holliston Town Hall from 2020-2024
June 1, 2020: A citizen request is made of the Town Administrator to fly the Pride Flag from the flagpole in front of Town Hall in celebration of Pride Month. The request is denied with the explanation that "the flagpole is reserved for ‘American Patriotic’ flags". In response to objection from concerned citizens, permission is given to instead display the Pride Flag from the front of the Town Hall building.
June 12, 2020: Pride Flag Ceremony
June 30, 2020: Holliston Town News – Holliston Pride Flag a Symbol of Inclusion
June 12, 2023: Pride Flag Raising
December 20, 2023: Holliston Reporter – Select Board Meeting Recap 12/18/2023 includes discussion of creating a new flag policy for the town
January 3, 2024: MMA webinar discusses flag flying practices
The Holliston Select Board states that the new Town Flag Policy prohibiting the Pride Flag from Town Hall and the Library is based on this webinar, coupled with the guidance of Town Counsel. This claim is inconsistent with the actual contents of the webinar; communication records with Town Counsel have been sealed by the town in violation of Massachusetts Public Records Law.
January 8, 2024: Town of Holliston Select Board Meeting
Proposed town Flag Policy is discussed at this meeting, although the topic is not listed on the agenda.
January 22, 2024: Town of Holliston Select Board Meeting
January 22, 2024: Holliston Flag Policy Approved 1-22-2024
This Flag Policy, approved January 22, 2024, prohibits any future displays of the Pride Flag on the Town Hall or the Library.
January 24, 2024: Holliston Reporter – Select Board recap 01/22/2024
January 24, 2024: Diverse Holliston Proposed Revisions to Holliston Flag Policy
January 26, 2024: Diverse Holliston Blog – URGENT: Help Holliston Adopt an Inclusive Flag Policy
January 26, 2024: Diverse Holliston Holliston Flag Policy Petition
with signator comments to the Select Board
February 5, 2024: Town of Holliston Select Board Meeting
February 14, 2024: Holliston Reporter – Select Board 02/05/2024
February 26, 2024: Diverse Holliston Newsletter – Holliston Flag Policy: Continuing the Discussion
March 3, 2024: Diverse Holliston Newsletter – Is the new flag policy better than the first?
March 4, 2024: Town of Holliston Select Board Meeting
Described as “.. a bleak portrayal of what happens when we speak truth to power,” in this Diverse Holliston newsletter
- video
- transcript courtesy of Diverse Holliston
After hearing comments urging for improvements to the policy, the Select Board instead unanimously approves a more restrictive version.
March 7, 2024: Holliston Reporter – Select Board Meeting 03/04/2024
March 9, 2024: Diverse Holliston Newsletter – Flag policy update
March 9, 2024: Diverse Holliston Blog – Flag Policy Next Steps
March 15, 2024: Saint Patrick’s Day bunting is displayed on Holliston Town Hall, in apparent violation of the new flag policy prohibiting all flags other than the the U.S Flag, the Massachusetts flag, the POW/MIA flag, and the Town of Holliston flag. The bunting is removed after the seeming hypocrisy of the situation is explained to the Select Board.
March 29, 2024: Holliston Town News – Holliston flag policy prohibits “third-party flags” from being flown on town-owned properties, including Town Hall
Presents the Select Board’s justifications without explaining how they are incorrect, misleading, and/or do not apply.
As of March 31, 2024, third party flags continue to be displayed at the Iraq & Afghanistan War Memorial. This appears to be another violation of the town’s own flag policy.