A Somali flag hoisted outside Buffalo City Hall for Somali Independence Day was stolen overnight, drawing condemnation from Mayor Sean Ryan.
“The City of Buffalo’s flagpole in Niagara Square sustained damage after unknown vandals broke the access panel, cut the cable, and removed the Somali flag during the overnight hours of Wednesday, July 1,” Ryan wrote in a Facebook post.
Ryan said Buffalo police are investigating the reported vandalism, which happened after the city granted nonprofit HEAL International permission to raise the blue flag with a white star on July 1.
“The flag had been raised by an organization called Heal International in honor of Somalian Independence Day. Heal International has been raising the Somali flag at Niagara Square for at least the last four years,” Ryan said.
According to the mayor’s office, the city’s “public use” flagpoles have displayed flags representing a number of countries and communities over the years, including Ukraine, Greece, Ireland, Puerto Rico, Italy and Bangladesh.
Officials did not immediately provide an estimate for the cost of the damage to the city-owned flagpole.
The two flagpoles are located across from the east side of City Hall, with one flying the American flag and the other designated for additional flags.
Somali Bantu refugees have been part of Buffalo’s West Side community since 2003, according to the New York State Assembly.
“Buffalo is a proud, diverse city, and our administration remains committed to honoring and celebrating the many cultures that make our community stronger,” Ryan wrote.
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The mayor, who previously served in the NYS Senate, has taken heat for canceling a city-sponsored Fourth of July fireworks display — days before the Somalian flag was raised.
Ryan claimed plans to hold a large Independence Day celebration fell through after the hired vendor “raised real questions” about the safety of launching fireworks near City Hall, according to WGRZ.
Former New York State Republican Party Chair, Rep. Nick Langworthy ripped Ryan for the excuse.
“Democrats are nominating anti-America socialist candidates across the country–including right here in Buffalo,” Langworthy wrote on Facebook. “The decision to cancel fireworks for our nation’s 250th birthday while simultaneously raising the Somali flag has everything to with THAT and nothing to do with logistics.”
Other Buffalo residents called out Ryan’s leadership as an “embarrassment.”
“Mayor you are an embarrassment to the American people and to the citizens of Buffalo,” one person wrote on Facebook.
“No fireworks for our most significant birthday in our lives. Thanks!” another wrote.
Ryan later said the city didn’t want to hold fireworks on a barge on the river because there was another display scheduled on a barge in August.
“I didn’t want to do them on the barge in the river because we’re already doing them August 2 on the barge in the river.”
Buffalo is set to celebrate “Stars Stripes and Signers” at the Buffalo Naval Park and Canalside area as part of ongoing America250 celebrations.
