HomeMy WebLinkAbout07-16-25 Public Comment - R. Sisson - Complaint vs. City of BozemanFrom:Rob Sisson
To:contactdoj@mt.gov
Cc:Bozeman Public Comment; Chuck Winn
Subject:[EXTERNAL]Complaint vs. City of Bozeman
Date:Wednesday, July 16, 2025 12:56:55 PM
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Dear AG Knudsen:
Last night, the Bozeman City Commission adopted the PRIDE flag as an official flag of the city. By doingso, the City did one or more of the following:
1. Established an official religion. Multiple commentators describe the PRIDE Movement as a religious movement; at minimum, it is anti-Christian movement. Both are blatantly unconstitutional for a governmental unit to support.
2. Endorsed a political movement. By all definitions, PRIDE is a political movement, raising billions of dollars each year to advocatelegislative policy. It is unconstitutional for a governmental unit to endorse a political movement.
3. The most gracious interpretation is the City simply adopted an affinity flag popular with a small portionof its constituents.
As a long time city commissioner and mayor, I have had my share of "constitutional issues". While I wasa mayor, we were approached by a group of Protestant ministers who asked to attend City Commissionmeetings and open them with a prayer. Our City Attorney advised us to deny the request. But, a majorityof commissioners wanted to move forward. So, we engaged a constitutional attorney who advised us thatwe could allow a prayer at the beginning of each meeting IF we opened the opportunity to people of allfaiths or non-faiths. Thus, we had prayers from Catholic, Protestant, Hindu, Muslim, Wiccan priestesses,and even an opening statement by an Athiest.
With the above constitutional interpretation, then the City must adopt flags of other points of view or faithtraditions.
If it was simply #3, then the city must adopt any affinity flag presented to them as an additional official flagof the city or else be guilty of discrimination. By cc:ing the City Commission and City Manager, I hereby
ask that the "An Appeal to Heaven" flag be adopted as an additional official flag of the city. A link to the
history of that flag is at the end of this message.
If the City is guilty of either #1 or #2, it must either immediately revoke last night's decision, or adopt anyother flag brought to them by citizens, in order to avoid the constitutional question.
As a Home Rule state, if the City of Bozeman insists on continued unconstitutional actions, I recommendthe State Legislature dissolve the city charter and let Gallatin County take over administration of thearea.
Why on earth people elected to positions of trust don't understand the American flag representsEVERYONE and the liberty to pursue whatever makes them happy (as long as it does not infringe on therights of others), is beyond me.
Sincerely,Rob Sissonhttps://www.americanflags.com/blog/post/an-appeal-to-heaven-flag-meaning?
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