A Somalian flag that was raised outside of Buffalo’s City Hall to commemorate Somali Independence Day was stolen in an overnight heist, the city’s leftist mayor decried.
“The City of Buffalo’s flagpole in Niagara Square sustained damage after unknown vandals broke the access panel, cut the cable, and removed the Somali flag during the overnight hours of Wednesday, July 1,” Mayor Sean Ryan wrote on Facebook.
Ryan said the Buffalo Police Department was investigating the alleged vandalism after the city approved non-profit HEAL International to raise the white star, blue flag on July 1.
“The flag had been raised by an organization called Heal International in honor of Somalian Independence Day. Heal International has been raising the Somali flag at Niagara Square for at least the last four years,” Ryan said.
The mayor’s office shared that the “public use” flagpoles have flown banners of several countries over the years, including Ukraine, Greece, Ireland, Puerto Rico, Italy and Bangladesh.
It was not immediately known how much the vandalism to the city-owned property cost.
Two poles sit across the street from the eastern side of City Hall with an American flag flying on one while the secondary pole is reserved for other flags.
Somali Bantu refugees have settled in Buffalo’s West Side since 2003, according to the NYS Assembly.
“Buffalo is a proud, diverse city, and our administration remains committed to honoring and celebrating the many cultures that make our community stronger,” Ryan wrote.
The mayor, who previously served in the NYS Senate, has taken heat for canceling a city-sponsored Fourth of July fireworks display — days before the Somalian flag was raised.
Ryan claimed plans to hold a large Independence Day celebration fell through after the hired vendor “raised real questions” about the safety of launching fireworks near City Hall, according to WGRZ.
Former New York State Republican Party Chair, Rep. Nick Langworthy ripped Ryan for the excuse.
“Democrats are nominating anti-America socialist candidates across the country–including right here in Buffalo,” Langworthy wrote on Facebook. “The decision to cancel fireworks for our nation’s 250th birthday while simultaneously raising the Somali flag has everything to with THAT and nothing to do with logistics.”
Other Buffalo residents called out Ryan’s leadership as an “embarrassment.”
“Mayor you are an embarrassment to the American people and to the citizens of Buffalo,” one person wrote on Facebook.
“No fireworks for our most significant birthday in our lives. Thanks!” another wrote.
Ryan later said the city didn’t want to hold fireworks on a barge on the river because there was another display scheduled on a barge in August.
“I didn’t want to do them on the barge in the river because we’re already doing them August 2 on the barge in the river.”
Buffalo is set to celebrate “Stars Stripes and Signers” at the Buffalo Naval Park and Canalside area as part of ongoing America250 celebrations.
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