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From YouTube: Committee on Commerce and Economic Development 2-3-2023
Description
The Committee on Commerce & Economic Development of the Council of the City of Philadelphia held a Public Hearing on Friday, February 3, 2023, at 10:00 AM to hear testimony on the following item:
220244
An Ordinance amending Title 21 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled “Miscellaneous,” by adding a new Chapter 21-3300, entitled “Flag Raisings,” to establish uniform standards for flag raising ceremonies, all under certain terms and conditions.
B
Thank
you
good
morning
today
is
Friday
February
3rd
2023.
This
is
the
committee
on
Commerce
and
economic
development.
Before
we
begin,
the
public
hearing
I
will
make
the
following
announcements.
Due
to
the
continued
threat
of
Public
Health
from
covid-19
city
council
committees
are
currently
meeting
remotely.
B
We
are
using
microphone
teams
to
make
these
remote
hearings
possible
instructions
for
how
the
public
May,
View
and
offer
public
testimony
and
public
hearings
of
council
committees
are
included
in
the
public
hearing,
notices
that
are
published
in
The,
Daily,
News,
inquire
and
legal
intelligence
or
prior
to
the
hearings
and
can
also
be
found
on
phlcouncil.com
I.
Now
note
that
the
Hours
come
Miss
Sweeney.
Will
you
please
call
the
roll
to
take
attendance
members
in
attendance?
B
B
B
Thank
you
before
we
begin
the
hearing,
testimony
from
our
Witnesses
we
have
for
today.
Everyone
who
has
been
invited
to
the
meeting
to
testify
should
be
aware
that
this
is
the
public
hearing
is
being
recorded
because
the
hearing
is
public
participants
and
viewers
have
no
reasonable
expectations
of
privacy.
By
continuing
to
be
in
the
meeting,
you
are
consenting
to
being
recorded
additionally
prior
to
recognizing
members
for
their
questions
or
comments
they
have
for
the
witnesses.
I
will
know
for
the
record
at
this
time.
B
They
will
use
the
chat
feature
available,
Microsoft
teams
to
allow
members
to
signify
that
they
wish
to
be
recognized
in
order
to
comply
with
the
sunshine
act.
The
chat
feature
must
only
be
used
for
this
purpose.
Ms
Sweeney.
If
you
please
call
the
panel
that
we
have
to
testify
this
morning
when
Bill
number
220-244.
G
G
Unfortunately,
Sheila
has
City
representative
and
Rob
nonemaker
Director
of
Events
for
the
city.
Representatives
Office
could
not
be
with
us
today.
They
had
prior
engagements
and
are
out
of
the
office
I'm
here
to
testify
in
response
to
Bill
number
220244
introduced
by
council
member
David
O,
which
addresses
the
PHL
honors
diversity,
flag,
raising
program,
the
city
of
Philadelphia's
office
of
immigrant
Affairs
or
oia
as
we're
commonly
referred
to.
We
have
a
mission
to
promote
the
well-being
of
Philadelphia's
immigrant
communities.
G
G
Our
work
has
historically
focused
on
three
areas
on
these
three
areas:
policies
and
programs;
Economic,
Development
and
year-round
cultural
programming,
oia
partners
with
the
office
of
City,
representative
or
OCR,
as
they
are
often
called,
which
celebrates
and
enhances
Philadelphia's
visibility
and
diversity
through
event,
creation,
Community
engagement,
Innovative
experiences
and
collaborations
oia
and
OCR
co-produce.
The
PHL
honors
diversity
flag,
raising
program,
the
Philadelphia
honors
diversity
flag,
raising
program
was
formally
launched
in
2018
and
celebrated
the
rich
diversity
of
our
city
as
the
nation's
first
world
heritage.
G
The
Philadelphia
honors
diversity
flag,
raising
program
is
separate.
I
must
note
from
the
city's
flags
on
the
parkway
program
and
other
parts
of
the
city.
The
flags
on
the
parkway
program
is
currently
administered
by
the
mayor's
office
and
is
not
subject
to
the
guidelines
of
the
Philadelphia
honors
diversity.
Flag,
raising
program,
separate
flag
raisings,
may
occur
at
the
discretion
of
the
mayor's
office
to
advance
the
administration's
goals
of
diversity.
G
We
also
offered
an
optional
virtual
training
session
for
prior
flag
raising
organizers,
so
they
would
be
familiar
with
the
new
guidelines
and
so
just
for
everyone's
awareness.
The
current
approves
Philadelphia
honors
diversity.
Flag,
raising
program
criteria
are
as
follows:
one
an
applicant
must
be
related
in
its
Mission
or
its
membership
to
the
country
of
the
flag
it
seeks
to
raise
to
an
applicant's,
Mission
and
program
should
clearly
promote
the
well-being
or
inclusion
of
Philadelphia's
immigrant
communities.
G
Three
an
applicant
must
have
its
organizational
address
in
Philadelphia
and
four,
the
foreign
country
of
the
flag
must
be
one
of
the
following:
a
nation
with
an
official
consulate
or
Embassy
in
the
United
States,
a
nation
that
is
recognized
by
the
U.S
Department
of
State,
a
nation
that
is
has
significant
historical,
ethnic
or
commercial
ties
to
Philadelphia.
So
any
of
those
three
and
flag
raisings
only
occur
Monday
through
Friday,
excluding
City,
observed
holidays
between
10
a.m
and
4
P.M.
G
For
a
one
hour
program,
applicants
must
Supply
the
country's
6x10,
officially
recognized
flag,
that
is
nylon
double-sided
with
grommets
Flags
will
be
raised
for
a
minimal
of
24
hours.
Maximum
of
72
hours.
Applicants
are
limited
to
one
request
per
calendar
year
and
will
be
raised
on
the
North
apron
of
city
hall
or
the
municipal
Services
building
as
an
alternative.
G
B
G
G
B
G
Yeah
and
I
know
this
is
my
my
witness
portion
too,
but
I
also
have
Margaret
Hughes
here
from
Austin
city
representative,
because
they
administer
all
the
flag,
raising
programs,
so
wherever
it
makes
sense
to.
We
can
also
pull
in
Margaret
to
answer
some
some
of
those
questions,
but
it
is
a
separate
process.
Okay,.
F
F
There
was
a
flag
raising
that
was
done
annual
by
council
member
Maria
Quinones
Sanchez,
who
would
raise
the
flag
of
Puerto
Rico,
which
is
a
commonwealth
of
the
United
States
of
America,
and
the
flag
raising
was
very
significant
because
many
of
our
Puerto
Rican
citizens
and
other
Hispanics
did
not
feel
welcome
in
City
Hall.
They
were
very
much
felt.
F
Disenfranchised
and
I
noticed
that
when
she
celebrated
with
the
flag
and
Three
Kings
Day
and
and
offered
food
and
music
right
here
in
City
Hall
many
people
from
the
community
came
in
enjoyed
the
music
and
felt
very
welcome.
I
had
when
I
got
elected
done
an
event
around
B2B
for
various
minorities
to
engage
in
Contracting
with
our
city
entities
and
I
was
surprised
how
few
people
attended
and
I
realized
that
they
were
intimidated
by
this
building.
F
F
So
we
in
this
Council
passed
a
resolution
recognizing
the
flag
of
South
Vietnam
as
a
Heritage
and
freedom
flag
and
that
flag
has
been
raised
ever
since
and
then
eventually
that
there
was
a
Dominican
flag
raising
and
more
and
more
and
more
flag,
raisings
and
I.
Think
the
important
part
of
it
is
that
we
have
many
people
in
this
country.
They
are
U.S
citizens.
Some
of
them
are
not,
but
they
don't
feel
included
and
I.
Think
that's
where
the
administration
and
we
are
all
on
the
same
sheet
of
music.
F
Everybody
should
feel
welcome.
They
should
feel
able
to
be
proud
of
their
culture
and
their
language,
their
food
and
their
Heritage,
and
share
all
that
with
us,
and
so
there
has
not
been
a
problem
as
increased
flag,
raisings
occurred
and
the
administration
changed.
It
went
from
Michael
Nutter
to
Jim
Kenney
Jim
Kenny
had
voted
on
all
these
flag
raisings
when
we
were
doing
it
as
a
council
body.
Now
as
mayor,
he
instituted
a
wonderful
program
around
soccer
that
was
very
inclusive
and
encouraging
of
peoples.
F
We
look
at
Flags
in
various
ways,
but
I
think,
for
example,
for
the
Irish
on
St
Patrick's
Day.
We
see
a
lot
of
the
the
the
Irish
national
flag.
It's
it's
more
about
the
people
of
the
Heritage
and
kind
of
addressing
the
Discrimination
that
they
faced
when
they
got
here.
They
rally
around
the
flag,
As
Americans
of
Irish
heritage,
as
we
do
with
the
Italian
flag,
the
Mexican
flag
and
other
flags,
the
Belarusian
Community.
F
They
have
a
Belarusian
Heritage
day
and
that
resolution
was
introduced
in
December
of
2021,
with
a
date
of
raising
the
flag
in
March,
I,
believe
25th
of
2022.,
so
they
sent
out
invitations
as
far
as
California
and
New
York
and
people
were
very
excited
to
come
and
participate
in
the
first
ever
official
flag
raising
of
the
Belarusian
freedom
and
Heritage
flag.
Now,
the
reason
why
they
do
not
want
to
raise
the
state
department
flag
is
because
that
is
a
dictator's
flag.
F
The
country
had
a
flag,
an
official
flag,
recognized
by
the
state
department,
but
then
the
the
the
dictator
did
not
recognize
the
the
elected
president
and
she
left
the
country
and
they
feel
that
their
real
flag
is
the
red
and
white
flag,
not
the
current
flag,
which
is
a
variation
of
the
Soviet
flag
so
or
the
flag
that
when
they
were
dominated
by
the
Soviet
Union.
So
when
they
have
their
events,
they
are
not
raising
the
dictator's
flag,
they're
raising
their
freedom
flag,
and
we
did
that.
F
Prior
to
the
new
rule
that
came
out.
And
so
we
had
a
conversation
about
the
fact
that
Council
through
resolution
did
pass.
The
flag
raising
recognize
a
flag
and
it
was
done
prior
to
the
the
new
rule,
but
as
it
turned
out,
the
administration
did
not
recognize
council's
resolution.
I
think
the
real
issue
here
is
that
we
have
three
equal
but
separate
branches
of
government.
There's
nothing
in
the
code
about
raising
Flags.
F
It
just
isn't,
and
we
have
been
doing
this
and
then
suddenly
the
Administration
has
decided
to
lay
out
some
rules
and
that's
fine
for
them,
but
when
they
do
not
recognize
a
council
resolution,
that's
passed
unanimously.
I
think
that
raises
a
very
serious
issue,
and
that
is
that
all
three
branches
of
government
coexist
in
this
building.
We
have
courts,
not
only
Philadelphia
courts.
F
F
You
can
continue
on
so
so
I
think.
The
issue
is
that
if
we
codify,
if
we
now
put
in
the
code
so
that
we
don't
have
changes
Merit
to
Mayor,
Administration
Administration,
the
the
the
ordinance
basically
says
that
all
of
this
shall
be
done
by
the
the
the
the
administration
through
the
office
of
City
representative.
F
B
F
Summarize
with
this,
basically,
there
are
three
separate
but
equal
branches
of
government.
We
have
different
roles.
There
was
nothing
in
the
code
about
how
we
do
this.
We
had
been
doing
it
and
the
administration
decided
to
do
it
a
certain
way,
which
is
fine
except
now
they're,
not
doing
they're,
not
recognizing
counsel.
When
we
pass
a
resolution
and
I
think
it
is
important
that
while
the
administration
does
have
the
authority
and
handheld
handles
flag
raising,
but
when
we
pass
a
resolution,
those
flags
shall
be
raised
and
recognized
as
well.
F
So
what
I
did
is
I
codified
it
in
under
this
bill
that
empowers
the
administration
to
have
a
process,
but
it
does
recognize
when
Council
passes
a
resolution
to
raise
a
flag.
We
may
have
a
very
different
views
on
this
and
each
council
person
there's
10
different
districts
with
different
communities
I'm
at
large.
You
know
we
have
different
engagements
and
again
you
might
have
missed
the
part
where
I
said,
but
the
the
the
nation
of
Belarus
elected
a
democratically
its
first
I
believe
female
president.
F
F
You
know
our
South
Vietnamese
population,
our
our
veterans,
who
served
in
Vietnam
during
the
war
that
they
are
recognizing
a
flag-
that's
been
recognized
by
other
states
and
counties
and
cities,
and
here
in
the
Philadelphia
we
recognize
the
Vietnamese
freedom
and
Heritage
flag.
So
I
think
that
may
be
a
difference
between
where
we
are
and
where
the
administration
is,
but
I,
don't
think,
there's
any
harm
to
the
administration
because
they
are
not
approving
these
flags.
F
E
F
Councilmember
could
I
could
I
bring
it
back
to
Philadelphia
for
a
second,
we
have
the
second
largest
Ukrainian
population
in
the
nation
here
in
Philadelphia.
If
the
Ukraine
were
to
fall
and
the
the
flag
was
altered
under
a
dictatorship,
you
will
not
find
ukrainians
doing
anything
under
that
flag.
They
will.
They
will
be
raising
the
flag
that
is
flying
now,
I
think
Flags.
While
they
are
foreign
in
in
nature,
I
just
did
the
Caribbean
Festival
and
over
the
summer
flags
flying
everywhere.
F
E
E
F
However,
I
do
think
that,
under
the
current
process,
we
have
one
flag
right
now
that
we
fly
every
year,
that
is
the
flag
of
South
Vietnam.
It
is
flying
at
the
Vietnam
memorial
right
now
and
in
other
places
all
over
this
country.
We
have
it
at,
for
example,
shopping
center,
so
so
the
the
population
here
does
want
us
to
raise
the
flag
of
freedom
and
Heritage
for
South
Vietnam
and
to
suddenly
stop.
That
is
a
problem
for
them
and
and
for
the
country
of
the
Belarus.
F
It
is
a
problem
as
well,
but
I
think,
rather
than
not
raising
Flags
or
coming
up
with
roles
that
prevent
a
case-by-case
review
by
the
legislature,
because
I
think
this
is
a
separation
of
powers
like
in
Washington.
The
White
House
is
the
president.
The
capital
is
a
Congress
and
the
Supreme
Court
is,
you
know
judicial,
but
we're
all
in
one
building
here
and
I.
Think
it's
a
very
a
very.
We
have
to
work
out
a
way
where
legislature
can
represent
their
constituents.
F
E
I
We
have
additional
civil
Affairs
beyond
the
normal
one
or
two
that
General
income,
and
given
that,
if
you,
if
you
heard
Amy's
testimony
that
we
keep
the
flag
raisings
within
the
confines
of
sort
of
the
normal
business
day,
I
don't
believe
without
checking.
First
with
our
folks
in
the
office
of
special
events
or
elsewhere
in
the
permitting
process,
I
believe
that
that
cost
is
not
outside
there's
no
additional
cost
during
the
regular
day.
I
E
B
J
Good
morning,
good
morning,
everyone
good
morning,
dear
council
members
again,
my
name
is
Sergey.
Soliga
I
represent
Belarusian
Community
here
on
this
testimony,
I
want
to
thank
council
member
David
Orr
for
very
detailed
summary
of
what's
going
on
in
in
Belarus
and
why
we
have
this
situation
with
the
flags.
Why
only
the
white
red
flag
is
recognized
by
a
majority
of
our
communities
here
in
Philadelphia,
so
I
will
skip
that
historical
part
and
we'll
go
directly
to
the
topic.
J
We
would
like
to
become
a
part
of
Philadelphia
family
of
Nations
and
exactly
as
David
stated,
we
coming
from
that
in
environments
where
government
is
not
helping
people
but
more
goes
against
them.
Most
of
of
belarusians.
We
are
afraid
of
even
communicating
with
City
Administration
go
to
the
city
hall
and
this
program.
The
flag
racing
program
is
a
great
opportunity
for
us
to.
You
know:
break
that
ice
to
show
people.
J
The
the
immigrants
are
adolescent
Americans
that
are
in
this
country,
in
the
United
States
government
and
including
the
city
government,
is
here
to
to
work
with
us
to
help
us
and
with
the
the
current
city
policy,
where
the
only
way
we
can
have
this
ceremony
done
is
by
raising
the
flag
of
dictator
lukashenka.
This
is
not
not
acceptable
for
us,
so
that
means
that
we
basically
excluded
from
this
program
completely,
and
this
is
our
problem.
J
So
that's
why
we're
asking
you
to
support
this
bill
and
allow
the
Russian
Community
to
raise
our
historical
flag,
because
this
is
important
thing.
Is
that
the
flag
that
we
are
all
care
about,
the
white
red
white?
It's
not
it's
not
something
new.
This
is
the
flag
of
Belarus
for
centuries,
and
this
is
the
flag
that
President
Clinton
was
holding
his
hands
when
he
visited
Belarus
in
1994..
J
B
B
K
K
K
Every
year
on
Belarusian
Freedom
Day
on
March
25th,
the
entire
dollars
income
diaspora
around
the
globe
strongly
opposes
the
current
official
red
green
flag
of
Belarus,
adopted
by
the
Soviet
Communist
Regime,
this
flag,
symbolizes
oppression,
systematic
abuse
of
Human,
Rights
and
tyranny
during
communist
times
and
during
the
current
dictatorship
of
Alexander
lukashenka.
Today,
this
flag,
greets
Russian
aggression,
aggressors
who
launch
missiles
and
bomb
bombers
to
strike
the
Ukrainian
cities.
K
I
respectfully
request
the
raising
of
the
historical
National
white
red
white
flag
of
Belarus,
under
which
Belarus
gained
its
independence
from
the
Russian
Empire
in
1918
and
restored
from
the
USSR
in
1991.,
the
Russian
Democratic
forces
and
adversian
Community
throughout
the
world.
The
world
used
a
wide
red
white
flag
as
a
symbol
of
the
courageous
struggle
of
the
dollars
and
people
for
democracy
and
freedom.
Under
this
flag,
many
belarusians
defend
Ukraine
against
Russian
aggression.
K
B
L
L
Good
morning,
Mr,
chairman
council,
member
and
staff
I
support
this
bill,
and
I
would
like
to
highlight
several
relevant
points.
I
have
already
submitted
my
written
testimonies
available
number
one.
Any
national
flag
is
a
symbol
that
reflects
this
nation's
history
and
the
current
official
Belarus
from
red
green
flag
is
the
modification
of
design
adopted
in
1951.
L
from
Stalin
Soviet
Union,
while
the
national
flag
goes
down
back
to
at
least
1514.
So
it's
one
of
the
oldest
national
flags
in
Europe
number
two.
The
current
official
belarusion
pack
is
a
symbol
of
Russian
imperial
dominance
and
Colonial
occupation,
and
belarusians
know
it's
very
well
speaking.
Your
native
language
in
public
places
is
how
safe
the
Russian
language
number
three.
Additionally,
since
2020,
the
official
of
life
became
a
symbol
of
repression
and
prosecution
and
since
February
2022,
the
official
flag
became
also
a
symbol
of
participation
and
Putin's
war
against
Ukraine
number.
L
Four,
the
national
flag
is
a
symbol
of
a
fight
for
freedom
and
freedom
is
not
free.
A
little
known
fact,
one
of
those
many
brutal
Russian
invasions
in
17th
century
caused
life
of
a
half
of
population
of
dollars
like
50
percent.
Surprisingly,
the
people
who
recognize
the
Belarusian
official
flag
feel
disgust
and
hatred.
Therefore,
I
fully
support
this
legislation.
B
M
Yes,
sir
Joseph
Tran,
please
proceed
sir
good
afternoon,
council
members.
Thank
you
again
for
this
opportunity.
I'm
very
grateful
to
be
speaking
here
today,
representing
both
the
Vietnamese
American
community
of
Pennsylvania
and
Philadelphia.
The
Vietnamese
American
Community
are
people
of
immigrants
and
children
of
immigrants,
including
myself.
Many
of
whom,
who
are
refugees,
who
have
like
many
other
groups
throughout
our
nation's
history,
have
come
called
the
United
States
our
home
in
search
of
the
same
values,
all
Americans
hold
dear,
which
is
democracy,
freedom
and
opportunity.
M
Being
a
student
at
the
Philadelphia
College
of
Osteopathic
Medicine,
where
I
currently
serve
as
a
student
government
president
representing
all
of
our
fine
medical
and
graduate
students,
I
come
to
you
before
today
in
support
of
councilman
David
O's
resolution,
and
to
ask
for
your
support
to
recognize
the
ability
for
the
Vietnamese
American
Heritage
flag,
to
be
recognized
as
the
official
flag
and
to
be
able
to
raise
and
to
authorize
during
ceremonies.
Official
ceremonial
gatherings.
M
The
Vietnamese
Heritage
flag
is
more
than
a
symbol
of
people
of
our
people
in
diaspora,
it's
the
embodiment
of
values
and
struggles
in
the
fight
in
the
name
of
Freedom
equality
and
democracy,
a
value
that
is
shared
by
us
all,
As
Americans
and
us
as
free
Vietnamese
people
as
a
country
and
as
a
city
that
Prides
itself
with
diversity
and
love
with
democracy.
I
humbly.
Ask
the
city
council
simply
recognize
this
fact
for
our
people
as
one
of
the
many
groups
that
make
up
this
great
City
and
Country.
N
During
the
protest
Mass
protest
in
Belarus,
where
two
percent
of
the
whole
country
population
went
on
the
streets,
they
were
all
like.
Raising
the
white
red
White
Flags.
This
flag
has
a
big
history
in
Belarus
it
was
official
flag
during
short
period
of
time
of
Independence,
and
it
does
mean
a
lot
for
us
and
for
all
the
immigrants
and
who
came
to
the
United
States
in
the
fear
of
persecution
in
Belarus.
N
This
is
the
only
flag
they
can
stand
by
and
erase,
because
many
of
the
people
are
actually
were
sent
to
the
prison
just
for
expressing
their
opinion
and
just
for
wearing
the
colors
of
this
flag.
So
they
cannot
support
the
flag
of
tyranny
and
the
tortures,
which
is
current
flag,
that
is
recognized
by
the
state
department.
O
O
Good
morning,
so
why
the
historical
flag
is
very
important
for
Belarusian
Community,
it's
because
of
a
representation
of
democratic
values,
freedom
and
and
dependence.
This
flag
is
Rich.
A
positive
history
for
all
belarusians,
so
government
supported
flock,
which
supports
dictator
lukashenka,
represents
the
Communist
past
of
the
Republic
of
Belarus
when
the
county
was
in
Soviet
Union.
O
The
historical
Flag
represents
Democratic
movements,
culture,
history,
Belarusian,
language,
society
and
Belarusian
people.
The
government
of
Flag
represents
the
dictatorship,
Soviet
passed
communism
relationship
with
Putin
KGB
and
war
with
the
Ukraine,
so
we
are
belarusians
in
United,
States,
choosing
democratic
values.
That
is
why
white
red
white
flag
is
very
important
for
us
and
for
our
Belarusian
Community.
Thank
you.
B
P
Of
the
national
symbols
from
Early
Middle
Ages
symbols
identifying
people
and
state
being
in
existence
on
the
lands
of
nowadays
Belarus,
where
three
stripe
white
red
white
flag
and
emblem
depicting
horse
rider
with
a
sword
and
The
Shield
plugged
with
unique
six
ended
cross
known
as
parody
or
chase
the
long
historical
periods
changes.
This
state
existed
independently
under
the
name
of
great
Ukrainian,
Lithuanian
Princeton,
as
well
as
voluntarily
unified,
State,
reg,
paspalita
enveloping
polish
and
Belarusian
peoples,
but
those
times
they
later
later
were
known
as
lead
winds.
P
P
belongs,
and
ethnic
and
historical
white
red
white
flag
is
related
to
two
striped
polish
red
and
white
flag
Evolution
authentic
ethnic
and
historical
emblem
resembles
the
current
state
emblem
of
Lithuanian
Republic.
This
is
quite
natural,
as
our
nations
are
closely
related
and
lived
side
by
side
for
many
centuries
in
1793,
under
the
threat
of
actions
by
overwhelming
armed
forces.
The
last
split
of
vegetable
between
three
Empires
German,
austro-hungarian
and
Russian
was
enacted.
This
had
led
to
incorporation
of
lands
currently
named
as
Belarus
into
Russian
Empire
afterwards,
Soviet
Union,
which
lasted
until
1991.
P
clack
of
Belarusian
Republic
as
a
component
of
Soviet
Union
in
the
form
of
red
and
green,
was
adopted
in
a
formal
act
by
Soviet
Union
and
its
communist
authorities
in
Moscow
in
1951,
as
well
as
the
emblem
last
revision
of
1981
closely
resembling
that
of
the
Soviet
Union
after
the
Soviet.
Union
has
ended
as
the
state
entity
in
1991
all
states,
formally
conquered
by
Russian
Empire,
as
well
as
Soviet
Russia,
formed
back
and
retrieved
their
historical
National
symbols.
Belarus
was
no
exception.
P
In
1991,
Belarusian
Parliament
has
adopted
National
white
red
white
flag
and
emblem
Pavonia
as
national
state
official
symbols.
These
official
national
state
symbols
existed
until
1995
when
President
lukashenka
changed
them
back
to
those
of
Soviet
era.
Massive
popular
unrest
and
the
wide
rate
White
Flag
lasting
for
months
in
2020,
along
entire
Belarus
after
regular
set
of
location
power
through
elections.
P
Caricature
evidently
showed
that
merely
this
flag
is
ethnically
identical,
authentic
and
deeply
respected
by
Belarusian
people,
red
and
green
flag
of
the
Republic
of
Belarus,
which
was
adopted
back
in
1995
against
the
Constitution
and
law
by
President,
lukashenka
Force
since
then
is
used
as
an
official
Belarusian
flag.
The
flag
is
also
almost
identical
to
that
of
Belarusian
Republic
within
the
Soviet
Union.
P
This
shaky
and
doubtful
communist
symbol,
evidently
outliving
its
times
does
represent
lukashenka's
oppressive
regime
and
its
communist
predecessors.
This
flag
also
symbolized
symbolizes
communist
regimes,
crimes
within
the
Soviet
Union
and
abroad,
as
well
as
many
years
of
Cold
War.
This
flag
does
symbolize,
not
the
people,
but
the
regime,
suppression,
suppressing
people
and
deduces
the
feelings
of
pain
and
will
be
wilderness.
B
R
B
S
S
I,
really
appreciate
you
for
having
me
at
this
public
hearing,
it's
a
big
honor
to
provide
testimony
and
support
to
establish
standards
for
flag
raising
ceremonies,
and
yes,
I
support
this
legislation
as
many
of
Belarusian
citizens.
Do
we
belarusians
support
it
because
for
us
now
this
is
one
of
a
few
legal
ways
to
speak
and
to
be
heard.
S
We
as
a
nation
have
been
standing
for
these
values
for
years
and
our
wide
red
white
flag
is
a
symbol
of
these
main
principles
believe
and
follow
it's
our
Belarusian
historical
flag
with
a
hundred
and
five
years
history
that
has
been
being
an
official
symbol
of
the
country
for
only
four
years,
our
white
red
white
flag
says
we
are
civilized.
Belarusians
who
want
to
live
in
the
Democratic
Republic
of
Belarus,
our
widespread
White
Flag,
says
we
have
nothing
common
with
lukashenka
and
his
dictatorship.
S
We
have
nothing
common
with
all
the
crimes
the
dictator
lukashenka
and
his
regime
do.
We,
belarusians
are
against
lukashenka
and
we
fired
him
in
August
2020..
The
whole
world
saw
the
photos
on
the
videos
of
the
Belarusian
protests
against
koshenka's
live
falsifications
and
cruelty.
I
was
there
among
people
who
asked
for
justice
and
who
submitted
that
is
our
chosen.
President
I
talked
to
the
people.
I
was
doing
my
job
as
a
journalist
and
I
saw
and
I
felt
the
police
run.
S
Wild
belarusians
raised
white
red
white
flag
as
a
symbol
of
our
standing
against
bloody
dictator
and
his
government.
Our
white
red
white
flag
is
a
symbol
of
our
Unity,
with
Americans
in
standing
for
democracy,
Liberty
and
freedom.
Extending
for
democracy
is
a
crime
death
that
wilkashenko
provides
now.
According
to
him,
standing
for
democracy,
honest
to
Liberty,
is
extremism
and
terrorism.
That's
why?
For
belarusians,
the
cost
of
standing
for
democracy
is
terrible.
What
is
discussed?
Well,
it's
more
than
11
000
criminal
cases
for
political
regions
appeared
in
recent
two
years.
S
S
1433
people
are
political
prisoners
in
Belarus.
Now
this
is
that
the
data
according
to
Human
Rights
activists
and
about
100
000
belarusians,
were
made
to
leave
their
motherland
in
a
hurry
and
ask
for
political
asylum
in
other
countries.
I
was
among
them.
That's
why
I'm
here
now
with
no
family,
no
home,
no
job,
no
friends-
and
this
is
the
cost
I
paid
for
standing
for
democracy
in
Belarus,
and
many
belarusians
did
the
same
well
being
here
in
the
USA
means
for
us.
There
are
reasons
to
have
future.
S
You
give
us
a
possibility
to
fight
for
democracy
and
freedom
in
Belarus
anywhere.
We
have
and
raising
our
wide
trade
white
flag
is
one
of
these
ways,
because
this
way
we
show
people
in
Belarus
that
we
are
together
and
we
didn't
give
up.
There
is
nothing
more
to
ask
you
except
one
thing:
please
support
this
legislation.
It
will
cost
nothing
for
you
just
saying
yes,
it's
a
small
world
is
the
word
for
huge
support
of
democracy,
Liberty
and
freedom
in
Belarus.
Thank
you.
H
My
name
is
president
of
Vietnamese
American
community
in
Philadelphia.
I
would
like
to
thank
the
city
of
Philadelphia
for
allowing
our
community
to
display
the
South
Vietnam
flag
over
the
past
several
years.
It's
a
simple
but
symbolic
gesture
should
be
continued.
The
South
Vietnam
flag
is
the
identity
of
Vietnamese
American
Community
recognize
it
can
acknowledge
and
contribution
to
the
experience
nearly
16
000
Vietnamese
American
taxpayer.
H
This
is
the
same
flag
that
fly
high
at
Vietnamese
American,
even
and
throw
out
the
Vietnamese
business
district,
6th,
Avenue
and
Washington
Avenue
at
the
Vietnam
Veteran
Memorial.
Where
is
pair
with
the
U.S
USA
flag
and
everywhere
everywhere
else
in
the
city,
beside
paying
the
tax
and
being
and
being
a
dutiful
citizen,
Vietnamese
American
have
served
in
U.S
Army
Navy
Air
Force
for
Vietnamese
who
have
lost
their
life
in
Iraq
and
Afghanistan
for
America.
The
city
should
honor
this
fine
Vietnamese
American
servicemen
and
they
are
origin.
By
display
the
South
Vietnam
flag.
H
The
city
of
Philadelphia
had
duty
to
remember.
648
Suns
ultimate
sacrifice
is
not
in
vain,
hopefully
someday,
we'll
find
a
tray
of
all
missing
servicemen.
We
must
not
forget
about
them.
They
are
a
song
Hero
doing
Vietnam
War,
maybe
Vietnamese
Philadelphia
fought
along
with
U.S
servicemen
when
the
war
is
ending,
those
who
fought
with
or
worked
with
U.S
they
are
in
prison
and
suffer
years
in
communist
re-education
camp.
H
They
were
nearly
staffed
to
death.
They
were
stripped
of
the
asset
and
changed
into
entirely
way
of
the
life.
The
yellow
Flag
symbolize,
where
we
come
from
and
I'll
fight
for
the
free,
Society
I
am
Survivor
of
Vietnamese
War.
For
this,
for
this
Survivor
the
Cambridge
risen
red
flag
with
the
yellow
star
is
the
middle
illicits
anger
and
profile
sense
of
loss.
I
have
heard
so
many
story
of
communist
Rhythm
abuse,
which
Vietnamese
government
have
never
apologized
or
firmly
acknowledge.
H
I
urge
you
to
pass
the
bill
220244
to
allow
display
the
South
Vietnam
flag.
We've
recognized
the
historical
and
cultural
significant
of
the
Vietnamese
community
and
honor
the
sacrifice
of
Vietnam
veteran
and
Vietnamese
American
servicemen.
We
are
grateful
to
councilman
David
off
for
introducing
bill
number
220244
on
behalf
of
Vietnamese.
We
thank
you
for
listening
to
us
and
thank
you
again
for
member
committee,
and
hopefully
the
bill
will
pass.
Thank
you.
H
T
We
fly
those
FL
those
flags
side
by
side
every
day
to
represent
the
shared
service
and
sacrifice
of
the
U.S
and
Arvin
Armed
Forces.
We
ask
that
you
do
the
same
at
your
April
30th
event
flying
the
Heritage
and
freedom
flag,
commemorates
an
historical
event
which
the
Vietnamese
Community
honors
on
April
30th.
We
mourn
the
terrible
losses
sustained
by
the
Vietnamese
people
during
the
war
and
the
horrific
treatment
they
received
from
the
oppressive
Communist
Regime
after
the
fall
of
Saigon
on
April
30th
1975..
T
In
raising
the
Vietnamese
Heritage
and
freedom
flag
at
the
flag
raising
ceremony,
you
demonstrate
that
the
Philadelphia
city
council
understands
and
appreciates
the
courage,
heroism
and
endurance
shown
by
the
Philadelphia
Vietnamese
American
community
in
the
face
of
tyranny
and
danger,
besides
their
courage
and
thirst
for
Freedom.
Allow
me
to
share
two
other
key
things:
I've
learned
from
my
Vietnamese
American
friends
I've
learned
that
the
Vietnamese
Heritage
and
freedom
flag
is
a
passionate
symbol
for
freedom
lost
and
freedom
regained
and
I've
learned
about
their
heartfelt
appreciation
for
Vietnam
veterans.
T
One
person
expressed
it
this
way.
We
thank
you
for
leaving
your
loved
ones
to
come
to
our
country
and
help
heirs
since
arriving
in
Philadelphia.
The
Vietnamese
American
Community
has
asked
for
little
but
contributed
much
the
same
generation
of
Vietnamese
who
came
here
with
nothing
now
thrives.
They
are
our
dentists,
doctors
and
pharmacists
lawyers,
Educators
businessmen
and
women.
T
Education
and
hard
work
were
stressed
by
these
families.
Consequently,
their
children
have
become
the
next
generation
of
Vietnamese
Americans
to
enter
these
professions,
and
this
virtuous
cycle
of
contributing
to
the
Social
and
economic
development
of
Philadelphia
continues
through
the
third
generation.
T
The
notion
of
flying
the
state
department
recognized
flag
of
the
Socialist
Republic
of
Vietnam,
the
red
one,
with
the
yellow
star
to
commemorate
April.
30Th
is
outrageous
and
hurtful
it
is
a
painful
insult
to
Vietnamese
Americans
and
it
dishonors
the
memory
of
the
United
States
and
Arvin
veterans
who
served
and
died
in
Vietnam
I,
encourage
you
to
do
the
right
and
honorable
thing
and
fly
the
Vietnamese
Heritage
and
freedom
flag
at
Future
flag,
raising
ceremonies.
T
T
B
T
B
B
B
C
U
B
U
A
U
May
I
speak
now:
I,
yes,
okay,
I
I
can't
quite
hear
everybody,
but
I
would
just
speak
now.
Okay,
so
good
morning,
Mr,
chairman
council
members,
my
name
is
Dr
Ann
Lee,
a
practicing
dentist
and
business
owner
in
Philadelphia
for
27
years.
I
am
a
proud
Vietnamese,
American
citizen
and
a
proud
Philadelphia
resident
for
the
past
36
years.
U
Philadelphia
is
a
wonderful
Metropolitan
city
with
a
diverse
population
which
consists
of
many
different
ethnic
groups,
including
the
Vietnamese
Americans.
As
a
community.
We
contribute
significantly
to
the
Social
and
economic
development
of
the
city
of
Philadelphia.
Now
councilman
Maxwell
know
this
very
well.
He
is
very
familiar
with
Washington
Avenue
right
in
South
Philadelphia,
how
it
is
very
commercially
developed
today
and
is
known
as
Little
Saigon
in
in
Philly,
but
the
Vietnamese
Americans
never
forget
the
reason
why
we
fled
the
communist
regime.
U
We
couldn't
endure
the
oppression
and
the
retaliation
under
the
authoritarian
government.
We
went
through
so
many
hardships
to
gain
our
Newfound
freedom.
We
truly
appreciate
and
value.
The
liberty
and
Democracy
in
America
has
offered
its
citizens
as
a
duty
of
American
citizens
and,
as
a
token
of
things,
we
vow
to
work
very
hard
to
pay
back
to
the
American
people
who
welcomed
us
with
open
arms
and
to
pay
back
to
this
beautiful
city,
which
has
been
home
for
so
many
fortunate
immigrants.
Like
myself,
while
embracing
the
new
culture
in
America.
B
C
V
Good
morning,
Council,
oh
good
morning,
councilman,
squeala
and
good
morning
of
the
council
member
who
are
on
this
committee
I.
Thank
you
for
giving
me
the
opportunity
to
speak
today.
I
am
a
Vietnamese
and
Refugee,
but
I
am
coming
to
you
today.
As
an
executive
director
of
the
indo-chinese
American
Council,
we
saw
immigrant
and
Refugee
in
Philadelphia
region.
V
V
I
would
like
you
to
think
of
the
reason
why
all
of
these
flags
that
represent
freedom
from
people
of
their
own
origin
need
to
be
recognized
at
City
Hall
and
need
to
be
raised.
The
same
way
that
we
raise
any
other
symbols.
Philadelphia
is
the
birthplace
of
freedom.
Philadelphia
is
the
city
of
Brotherhood.
V
Philadelphia
is
also
is
not
afraid
to
be
a
sanctuary
City.
Therefore,
we
need
to
step
up.
We
need
to
represent
freedom,
and
we
need
to
be
the
leader
for
the
entire
country
in
case
of
the
Vietnamese
flag.
We
are
not
the
first,
the
flex
has
already
been
recognized
by
many
states
and
even
the
state
of
Pennsylvania.
So
what
we
need,
what
we
need
the
people
to
to
be
able
to
do
is
nothing
that
the
state
have
not
done.
V
V
We
were
not,
we
were
not
able
to
make
change
to
the
policy,
but
that's
not
relevant.
The
relevancy
is
that
if
we
even
if
we
can
make
change
like
David
councilman
owe
said,
we
depends
on
mayor
to
Mayor
and
mayor.
So
this
resolution
is
very
important.
It's
unify
the
rules.
It
gives
the
constituent
another
way
to
great
to
raise
their
grievance
so
I
as
an
executive
director
of
the
indo-chinese
American
Council
urge
city
council
member
in
this
committee
to
support
the
bill
that
councilman,
oh,
have
brought
to
the
committee
and
I.
D
Good
morning
my
name
is
Irina
mazur
I'm,
honorary
Council
of
Ukraine
in
Philadelphia
pleasure,
to
see
you
chairman,
councilman,
o
council
members
and
all
the
attendees.
Thank
you
so
much
for
this
hearing
before
I
will
speak.
I
would
like
to
thank
you
for
your
support
of
Ukraine
and
all
the
newly
arrived
ukrainians
that
arrived
to
our
city.
I,
see
Mr
chairman
that
you
are
wearing
sign
of
support
of
Ukraine
on
your
left
rest.
Thank
you.
D
So
much
personally
also
I
would
like
to
thank
for
all
of
the
flag,
raising
ceremonies
and
personally
Sheila
has
and
Margaret
and
Robert.
Thank
you
so
much
for
all
your
work,
because
what
you
do
and
the
way
how
the
ceremonies
are
conducted,
the
extremely
valuable,
extremely
sensitive
to
all
of
our
immigrant
communities,
not
only
to
ukrainians,
because,
as
you
know,
many
residents
of
the
state
here
they
are
they're
not
born
in
the
United
States,
but
they
immigrated
here
and
became
contributing
and
productive
members
of
our
City
of
Brotherly
Love.
D
But
the
life
is
not
blue
and
white
and
cannot
cover
all
of
the
situations,
and
this
is
why
exceptions
are
created
in
order
for
exception
not
to
be
arbitrary.
It
has
to
be
based
on
objective
facts
and
supported
by
lawful
and
Justified
means.
In
my
testimony
today,
I
intend
to
convince
you
that
creating
an
exception
to
the
established
current
procedure
of
flag
raising
ceremonies
at
the
city
hall
property
is
necessary
and
reflective
use
and
desires
of
residents
of
Philadelphia
that
you
represent.
D
So
essentially,
as
it
was
stated
by
councilman
o.
The
issue
at
hand
came
recently,
and
it
was
very
hot
because
of
the
desire
of
Belarus
Community
to
fly
the
historical
and
national
flag
and
I
want
to
emphasize
again
that
this
flag,
white,
red
and
white
Under
this
flag,
President
Bill
Clinton,
was
greeted
in
1991
when
he
visited
Belarus.
D
D
I
would
like
to
emphasize
that
the
community
of
Belarus
supported
by
many
other
communities
like
Ukrainian,
Georgia
and
Lithuania,
Latvian,
Estonia
and
Uzbek
Casa
kyrgyz.
We
all
strongly
oppose
to
the
official
de
la
Russian
flag,
as
it
represents
not
only
oppressive
dictatorship,
torture
and
killing
of
Innocence
political
opposition,
oppression
and
persecution
of
people
who
defend
their
right
to
live
and
free
and
Democratic
country
of
the
country
free
of
communism.
D
So
it
is
offensive
for
all
of
us
to
see
this
flag
and
other
former
Soviet
communist
flags
flying
in
Philadelphia.
I.
Repeat
it
is
extremely
hurtful
and
offensive
to
all
of
us
so
when
the
example
of
Ukraine
was
brought
up,
yes,
Ukraine
has
its
own
flag.
We
established
in
1991,
it's
officially
recognized,
but
before
it
also,
they
had
the
Soviet
Flags,
but
nowhere
and
never
the
American
Ukrainian
community
of
Philadelphia.
D
You
were
able
to
see
Ukrainian
Community
here
under
the
Soviet
flag.
We
were
always
under
the
blue
and
yellow
flags,
the
true
flags
of
Ukrainian
Ukrainian
freedom
and
democracy,
and
now
you
can
see
those
flags
and
eat
and
every
corner
on
Philadelphia
and
everyone
is
in
support
of
Ukraine.
But
why?
It's
not
it's
a
matter
of
flag.
It's
a
matter
whether
you
support
the
right
or
wrong,
whether
you
support
democracy
and
whether
you
support
the
Liberty.
D
So
I
strongly
would
like
to
emphasize
that
in
case
of
flying
the
traditional
red
and
white
flag,
we
never
had
any
objections
from
anyone
from
Belarusian
Community
or
from
other
communities,
including
the
Russian
Community,
because
thank
God,
even
the
Russian
Community.
They
do
understand
the
necessity
of
removing
all
of
the
post-soviet
flags
from
the
city's
properties.
D
W
Are
you
hear
me
yeah
yep?
Thank
you,
sorry
yeah.
So
my
name
is
Dallas
and
I,
representative
of
Lithuanian
community
and
hello
for
everyone.
All
councilmans,
all
like
supporters
of
Belarusian,
community
and
pause,
like
I,
would
say
talking
about
more
lithuanians.
We've
been
there.
We
know
that
we
actually
right
now.
It
was
easier
to
talk,
but
we
know
what
is
mean
Freedom.
We
know
how
it's
mean
and
the
Soviet
Union.
W
B
B
C
T
T
Thank
you
for
your
persistence.
I
I
I
did
this
because
they're
very
powerful
and
you
get
to
see
people
from
Arab
community
that
risked
everything
in
small,
rickety
overcrowded
boats
to
to
to
get
here
what
they've
done
since
they've
arrived
and
they're
and
their
connection
with
U.S
U.S
servicemen.
It's
also
on
our
website
and
I,
and
in
my
written
testimony,
I
have
the
link
hyperlink
to
the
to
the
longer
20-minute
video,
but
it's
it's
very
powerful.
B
I
Yes,
thank
you
so
much
councilman
swella
when
councilman
o
referenced
the
memo
that
the
Law
Department
had
presented
to
him.
I
I
noticed
and
just
wanted
to
share
that
that
there
was
a
an
additional
section
that
the
Law
Department
had
placed
in
the
memo
that
I
just
want
to
share
for
clarification
because
it
may
it
may
help
with
perspective
on
the
mechanism
of
this,
as
opposed
to
the
spirit
of
the
bill
which
I
think
we
all
realized
is
a
very
Noble
spirit.
I
C
X
H
Y
My
wife
family
is
Chinese
and
they
can
go
because
their
name
on
the
birth
certificate
is
Chinese
but
I'm
a
Vietnamese
and
for
me,
if
they
cost
me,
then
I
will
do
that
yeah
and
maybe
not
labor.
For
all
my
life,
someone
in
my
mom
family
or
a
working
in
the
government,
so
I
have
owned
a
paper.
I
mean
specific
everything
like
Chinese
I
tried
like
four
or
five
times.
I'm
gonna
make
it
it
got
too
crowded
people
they
pushing
you
out,
because
you
do
you
don't
have
money
to
pay
for
them.
Y
U
Of
us
tried
countless
times
to
see
the
country.
Finally,
this
one
faithful
trip.
We
got
on
the
boat,
a
wooden
boat,
about
45
feet,
long
I,
don't
know
how
many
people
were
on
board
on
that
ship,
probably
close
to
200
and
just
as
we
passed
through
the
little
canal
and
the
police
were
asking
questions.
X
I
told
me
that
we
have
kept
together,
we
lived
together,
we
die
together,
I
said
if
we
get
caught
and
then
she
stopped.
So
let
me
escape
first
and
then
I
plan
for
you
to
ask
it.
I
was
so
scared,
the
pirates
boat
came
and
then
they
took
away
all
the
food
and
they
left
with
us
with
nothing,
and
we
had
to
try
to
survive.
Y
A
X
H
R
B
C
B
Seeing
none
there
being
no
further
questions
from
members
of
the
committee
and
no
other
witnesses
to
testify
on
Bill
number
220-244
I
will
ask
if
there's
anyone
else
present
at
this
hearing,
whose
name
we
have
not
called
and
who
wishes
to
offer
testimonial
build
number
that
is
being
considered
today.
Two
two:
zero:
two
four
four.
B
B
B
B
Q
B
For
the
record
council
member
Gautier
second,
the
motion
it
has
been
moved
and
properly.
Second,
the
bill
number
220244
be
reported
from
this
committee
with
a
favorable
recommendation
and
further
move.
The
rules.
Accounts
will
be
suspended
to
submit
the
first
reading
of
this
bill
at
the
next
session,
the
council,
all
those
in
favor
and
emotion,
signify
by
saying
aye
aye
aye,
those
opposed
the
eyes
have
it,
and
the
motion
carries.