A Pride flag at half-staff to honor Charlie Kirk: Trump order to lower flags spurs SoCal furor

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In the queer enclave of West Hollywood, some residents were furious at the sight of a Pride flag and a transgender flag lowered to half-staff to mourn Charlie Kirk’s assassination.In the city of Los Angeles, an internal Fire Department memo saying flags should stay raised sparked conservative anger at Mayor Karen Bass.And in Huntington Beach, where MAGA politics are warmly received, officials pledged to honor Kirk’s memory by keeping flags lowered for an additional week past the mourning period set by President Trump.The controversial right-wing commentator’s slaying last Wednesday ruptured cultural fault lines across the country, exacerbating fears of political violence, triggering campaigns to punish those who responded crudely and prompting the president to escalate attacks on his foes.Amid the national maelstrom, Trump’s unusual decision to order flags lowered to half-staff at public buildings to memorialize a private citizen has been a flash point at the municipal level.The fallout has exacerbated tensions in major cities and small towns, including in Southern California, as local officials chose whether to comply — and found wrath on either end of the decision.Kirk, 31, founder of the conservative youth organization Turning Point USA and a close Trump ally, was an incendiary figure.

In life, he was lionized by the far right and castigated by many others for anti-immigrant, anti-LGBTQ+ and anti-Black remarks, among other offensive rhetoric.He galvanized a generation of young Americans to turn toward the GOP, with even critics acknowledging his organizing skills and impact.

California In the aftermath of the Charlie Kirk assassination, vigils continue across California.Rallies planned through Monday include those in Beverly Hills and Moorpark.It’s not unprecedented for a president to order flags lowered to half-staff for a civilian, according to James Ferrigan,...