After weeks of demands from local Palestinian supporters, the City of Fresno will raise the Palestinian flag on Friday.
City officials announced during Thursday’s city council meeting that the Palestinian flag will be raised at Eaton Plaza in downtown at 2:30 p.m.
The backstory: Fresno raised the Israeli flag at Eaton Plaza just five days after the attacks of Oct. 7, drawing protesters who hurled insults at Mayor Jerry Dyer during the event.
- With unusual intensity, Dyer scolded protesters by claiming that “people that are standing here supporting what occurred Saturday with the killing of innocent Israelis and beheading of babies. If that is what you stand for then you do not stand for the United States of America.”
- Since that time, dozens of people have attended Fresno City Council meetings demanding that the Palestinian flag be raised as well.
The big picture: Thursday, Councilman Miguel Arias announced that the city would hold a Palestinian flag raising ceremony at the same place the Israeli flag was flown in downtown.
- People continued to speak during public comment to request that the city pass a resolution calling for a cease-fire.
