Palestinian Flag Raised Inside Hoboken City Hall, Despite Controversy

HOBOKEN, NJ — Despite controversy, the city of Hoboken hosted a Palestinian flag raising ceremony inside City Hall on Monday at noon.

Mayor Ravi Bhalla responded Monday morning to controversy over the event (see earlier reporting below).

He wrote, in part, "I was also asked why, when there are few Palestinians in Hoboken, that we should raise the flag. I feel that this makes it even more critical that we do not silence or deny the existence of a small minority of residents and their request for a flag raising. Recognizing their existence is all the more important for our community as a whole. The last thing we want to do is disrespect any community in Hoboken. I have been there for the Israeli community. This unchanged sentiment can co-exist with the sentiment that we support and celebrate the Palestinian community members here in Hoboken. In this regard, equality will be our hallmark here in this city. " (See the rest of his message here.)

"This symbolic event is organized to honor the Palestinian community and recognize its ongoing contributions to the fabric of Hoboken," said a release sent Friday from an independent party. "The ceremony will be attended by local officials, community leaders, and members of the Palestinian diaspora in Hoboken, as well as the general public."

On Monday evening, a city spokesperson said, "The request for the flag raising was initiated by a Hoboken resident. The ceremony was a peaceful celebration of the contributions of Palestinian community members in Hoboken and the local area."

Earlier Reporting

The proposed ceremony caused controversy amid the deadly war in Gaza.

Over the weekend, one group strongly urged the public to support the ceremony while another strongly condemned it.

Councilwoman Tiffanie Fisher, in her newsletter Monday morning, said she reached out to the mayor on Saturday with questions.

"This week, Mayor Bhalla—on his own—scheduled a flag-raising event for the Palestinian flag today at noon inside the Municipal Courtroom at City Hall," she wrote. "While the intent behind the flag-raising may have been to honor a cultural, or more likely political, request, this decision is deeply divisive at a time when many residents are already grappling with the ongoing crisis in the Middle East. Symbols matter, and actions like this have the potential to create unnecessary divisions within our community.

"I reached out to him to express my concerns with the event and to ask for reconsideration. Here is the email I sent on Saturday:

Any color you can give the City Council behind why you are hosting the Palestinian flag raising? I would ask that you reconsider doing this not just as a member of the Jewish community but a member of the Hoboken community. I know you’ve shared with some of our Jewish neighbors your strong opposition to antisemitism, which I believe, but this action can only be construed by many as being inconsistent with that position. Not because all who are pro-Palestine are anti-Semitic—we know that isn’t the case. But because we don’t know that all who are pro-Palestine aren’t.

"This is a difficult and divisive topic for many reasons, which is why the City Council unanimously took the position that we didn’t want to take any action that would bring divisiveness to our community...I hope you reconsider this decision and choose not to have this event on Monday."

Patch has reached out to the city for clarification about the reason for the event.

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