By Miranda Brumwell

Protestors demand pro-life flag be removed from P.A. City Hall

May 12, 2016 | 5:00 PM

There’s a new flag flying at City Hall, but not everyone is enjoying its addition to the roster: A pro-life flag was recently added by a local group for Celebrate Life Week.

Dorothy Kawula, the president of the P.A. pro-life chapter, said the flag is raised every year for a week and is a long standing tradition within the city. She said for the group it’s more of a joyful, hopeful thing.

“It’s a national week to promote life from conception to natural death through advocacy, education and support,” she said.

However, a group of pro-choice protestors see it differently. Prince Albert resident, Lana Wilson, organized a petition to have the flag removed. With 500 signatures in hand, she marched up the steps of City Hall to express concern to the Mayor today, May 12.

“It is an anti-choice flag that is explicitly working to shame, silence and promote discrimination against individuals who may need to seek abortion. It is a legal medical service that has been acknowledged by the United Nations,” she said.

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Wilson believes the flag is in direct violation with the City’s flag policy, which states that no flag should be flown if it’s divisive, political or religious in anyway.

“We are here today to help City Council comply with its own policy which is designed to protect the rights of individuals and groups,” she said at the protest held this morning. “We are requesting that it come down, we are requesting a public apology and we are requesting that it never be flown again.”

Coun. Lee Atkinson agrees the flag is in violation of the policy and said this particular flag should have gone before City Council to be approved before it was flown, which he says did not happen.

“In my opinion, this one perhaps should not be there. I wouldn’t necessarily endorse it,” he said. “It’s divisive. It is something that it is about trying to control other people and their choices. I think people should have the right to live their lives as they should and this exceeds those limitations.”

Atkinson added a decision on the flag would be made at a later date. 

Miranda.brumwell@panow.com

On Twitter: @mlbrumwell