The Merchants of Upper Market and Castro (MUMC) has been brought to the carpet about disrespecting the death of Nelson Mandela. According to the blog, Blacklight, MUMC ignored the memo to lower the flag in honor of Mandela.
To see for themselves all anyone had to do was take a walk up Market Street to the heart of the Castro, Supervisor Wiener’s domain. Not far at all from where everyone was gushing about how much they honored and respected Nelson Mandela. All along the route one would’ve seen flags standing at half-staff. Flags flying over private entities were lowered as well, in solidarity.
However, upon reaching the corner of Market and Castro, site of Harvey Milk Plaza, one would’ve seen the Rainbow Flag flapping in the wind from the top of the flag pole. How can this be? Did someone not get the memo?
In fact, someone “did” get the memo to lower the flag - they just chose to ignore it. That someone was the Merchants of Upper Market and Castro (MUMC), an organization of Gay business owners with establishments in the Castro.
In an unusual arrangement, while Harvey Milk Plaza is city owned land, the actual flag that flies above the Plaza is the personal property of MUMC. And its been their long-held practice, going back at least three years, that no one, and that includes Mayor Lee, can order them to lower “their” flag, under any circumstances, unless “they” choose to do it.
In effect, MUMC told the city they chose “not” to lower it for Nelson Mandela. What’s more, in effect, the city of San Francisco said, “OK.”
Blacklight talks about how no one has held the MUMC accountable for this foolishness. Indeed, this looks bad, really bad. It's like they have no respect for a man that spoke out for us (gays) or lived the life of a true human rights activist. And it also opens up old wounds involving racism in the Castro.
The MUMC blatant diss of Mandela rubs many LGBT people of color the wrong way. It doesn't help that their E-board are all predominately White either. Whether they address this matter remains to be seen, but the way they handled this situation is piss poor and disrespectful to Mandela's legacy.
Hopefully it was just an oversight. If not, it's really sad that they'd do that.
ReplyDeleteNot intending any disrespect, but do they lower their flag for anyone? I ask because if they do lower their flag, then this could be a statement; if they don't lower their flag for anyone, then it's just business as usual.
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