HomeMy WebLinkAbout08-01-25 Public Comment - R. Sission - Vote on New FlagFrom:Rob Sisson
Cc:Bozeman Public Comment; Chuck Winn
Subject:[EXTERNAL]Vote on New Flag
Date:Friday, August 1, 2025 11:47:54 AM
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Chuck- Checking in to see when a commission vote will be held to add the An Appeal to Heaven flag to
the city's list of official flags (per the highlighted request below).
Thanks,
Rob
On Wednesday, July 16, 2025 at 12:54:39 PM MDT, Rob Sisson <robsisson@yahoo.com> wrote:
Dear AG Knudsen:
Last night, the Bozeman City Commission adopted the PRIDE flag as an official flag of the city. By doing
so, 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 advocate
legislative 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 portion
of its constituents.
As a long time city commissioner and mayor, I have had my share of "constitutional issues". While I was
a mayor, we were approached by a group of Protestant ministers who asked to attend City Commission
meetings and open them with a prayer. Our City Attorney advised us to deny the request. But, a majority
of commissioners wanted to move forward. So, we engaged a constitutional attorney who advised us that
we could allow a prayer at the beginning of each meeting IF we opened the opportunity to people of all
faiths 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 faith
traditions.
If it was simply #3, then the city must adopt any affinity flag presented to them as an additional official flag
of 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 any
other 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 recommend
the State Legislature dissolve the city charter and let Gallatin County take over administration of the
area.
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?srsltid=AfmBOooSvHDWhYh2zmnqHLZkjfRMJ5-MB6NGSF5yvW5FJndHj1KInrO6