In March of 2022 after Russia launched a sudden, full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the City of Appleton demonstrated its support for Ukraine by flying the Ukrainian flag outside of City Hall and lighting Houdini fountain in yellow and blue, the colors of the Ukrainian flag.
It has now been over two weeks since the country of Israel, a long-time US ally and the only western-style democracy in the middle east, suffered a sudden surprise attack by Hamas, the governing authority of Gaza, and finds itself in a state of war. I think a relevant question is: when and will the City of Appleton demonstrate its support for Israel as it did for Ukraine by flying the Israeli flag outside of City Hall and lighting Houdini fountain in blue and white?
I have asked this question of Mayor Woodford four times over the last two weeks. I sent two messages through the online contact form, one of which I was affirmatively told was passed on to him. I also called his office twice and spoke with his assistant who, again, passed on my question.
With the flying of the Ukrainian flag and the lighting up of Houdini fountain in 2022, a precedent was set that says, in some situations, the City of Appleton will demonstrate support for causes and people that are not just outside of Appleton but that are outside of the United States.
President Biden has clearly voiced US support for Israel. The US Senate unanimously passed a resolution supporting Israel and decrying Hamas’ attacks on Israeli civilians. Even the mayor of New York City has clearly and publicly expressed his support for Israel. Given the clear, bipartisan support being shown for Israel and in light of the precedent that was set when Appleton demonstrated its support for Ukraine after that country was suddenly attacked and thrown into a war it did not ask for, I am baffled as to why the Israeli flag has not already been flown outside of City Hall or Houdini fountain lit in blue and white.
In this specific situation, I do not think it is unreasonable to ask why Ukraine deserved a demonstration of support from Appleton while a country facing a similar situation may not end up receiving a similar show of support. But, beyond that specific situation, I believe the residents of Appleton deserve to have clearly laid out guidelines and expectations around when the city will be making international political statements going forward.
I wrote to the Mayor just now asking the same question about whether the Israeli flag will be flown outside of City Center. Maybe if he gets more letters, he will make a decision.
Thank you. It seems like a very legitimate and reasonable question to me, and it concerns me that the mayor has simply ignored it.