Aurora Mayor Faces Criticism for Defying Governor’s Flag Order
AURORA, โIL – Aurora Mayor John Laesch isโ facing significant backlashโค after directing city officials to keep flags at fullโ staff โฃwhile โฃthe rest of Illinois observed a period of mourning following recent โฃpolitical โฃviolence. The decision, made despiteโ a directโ order from Governor J.B. Pritzker, has ignited a political firestorm and drawn criticism from state officials and the previous โmayor.
governor Pritzker initiallyโ ordered flags lowered to half-staff following the shooting of a Republican campaign worker in Iowa,โ a case authorities are investigating as aโ politically motivated attack.However,laesch instructed the Aurora Police โDepartment (APD) โฃand Aurora Fire Department (AFD) to maintain flags โขat full staff,citing a belief that the city,not the โขstate,held authorityโค over its โขown flag displays.
“The president has control over federal buildings, the governor over state buildingsโข and the mayorโ over city buildings,” laesch explained, referencing advice from his legal team.
The โฃmoveโฃ drew immediateโค condemnation from Illinois State’s Attorney General Kwame Raoul, who released aโ statement expressing deep concern that the city violated state โคlaw and “undercut the purpose of this solemn tribute.” Raoul, a long-time peace advocate โขand supporter of non-violence, noted his participation โขin peace demonstrationsโ duringโข the start โof the Iraq War.
Former Aurora Mayor โRichard โIrvin also weighed in, posting on Facebook that Laesch missed “the uncomplicated chance to denounce political violence” by lowering the flags. Irvin accused Laesch of showing “monumental disrespect” and a “blatant disregard forโ our democracy.”
Laesch acknowledged receiving both positive and negative feedback regarding hisโข decision, notingโข that public social media responses โคwere largely critical, while some individualsโ offered private support.
Aurora Ald. Keith Larson, a political โally of the mayor, publicly defended โLaesch’s stance, pointing to the lack of โคa similar flag lowering order earlier this year following the โkilling โof a Minnesota lawmaker and her husband. “To give specialโฃ treatment to one victim of political violence but not to othersโฃ is โto endorse that victim’s politicalโ ideology,” Larson wrote in a Facebook post, adding, “I again want to clarify that Charlie โฃKirk’s ideology DOSE โฃNOT justify โhis murder.” He argued against selectively honoring victims based on their viewpoints.
As of Monday, the city of Aurora has complied โwith a subsequent order from Governor Pritzker to lower flags to half-staff โto honor former Illinois Governor Jim Edgar, who died Sunday atโ the age ofโฃ 79. Flags will remain loweredโ until โฃthe โขday of Edgar’s interment.