Documented government record
What happened
Council action concerning state flag display
Outcome: Adopted
Attributed public record
What people said
“Decisions about the design or adoption of a state flag are made at the state level, not by municipal government. While we respect the importance of this discussion, it is not a city issue to decide.”
Mary D Fasbender ·
“The old flag depicts a white farmer and a native man riding away in the background. The depiction echoes painful historical realities for Dakota people.”
Grant Johnson ·
“We are not gone. Maybe some people want us to be gone. but we are here.”
Michael Childs Jr. ·
“My family has been farming this land for over 100 years. Removing the symbol feels like erasing part of who we are.”
Jeff McNamara ·
“I urge our city council not to get dragged into political theater and pay attention to clean water, roads, parks and trails.”
Bill Spinelli ·
“This continues to divide our community.”
Sam St. John ·
“Decisions about the design or adoption of a state flag are made at the state level, not by municipal government. While we respect the importance of this discussion, it is not a city issue to decide.”
Mary D Fasbender ·
“Some residents feel a deep connection to the historic flag. Others believe that change reflects who we are today. Both viewpoints come from a place of care for our state and its identity.”
Mary D Fasbender ·
“I've been approached by several community members about a concern of possibly going back to the old state flag. I said no several times, to the point where it felt like I wasn't doing my job. I felt it was important to bring it to the agenda.”
Mya Beck ·
“My husband is Native American. his ancestors were pushed out of their homelands. So when we talk about bringing back that flag, we need to ask, what does it represent, and who does it leave out?”
Angie Haus ·
“My family has been farming this land for over 100 years. Removing the symbol… feels like erasing part of who we are.”
Jeff McNamara ·
“We are not gone. Maybe some people want us to be gone… but we are here.”
Michael Childs Jr. ·
Reading letter from Grant Johnson (Prairie Island Tribal Council President): The old flag depicts a white farmer and a native man riding away; the depiction echoes painful historical realities for Dakota people.
Yvonne Oberly ·
“I urge our city council not to get dragged into political theater… and pay attention to… clean water, roads, parks and trails.”
Bill Spinelli ·
“I've been approached by several community members about a concern of possibly going back to the old state flag... I felt it was important to bring it to the agenda.”
Mya Beck ·
“This continues to divide our community. — Sam St. John, speaking about experiences growing up Native in the city”
Sam St. John ·
“Motion to amend the agenda to remove the flag item: matter already decided by the state and does not directly affect health, safety, or welfare of Hastings residents. Motion passed; Beck sole vote against.”
Lisa A Leifeld ·
“My husband is Native American… his ancestors were pushed out of their homelands. So when we talk about bringing back that flag, we need to ask, what does it represent, and who does it leave out?”
Angie Haus ·
Evidence
Primary records and sources
Hastings council votes to take flying old state flag off agenda Monday night
Secondary sources
Local and regional reporting
Hastings City Council Meeting: Public Comment for State Flag
Packed chamber, emotional testimony as Hastings sidesteps state flag debate
Hastings votes to take flying old state flag off agenda
Analytical data
Community context
MNFlag does not currently expose validated election or demographic context at the city level for this case. Context will appear here only when its geographic grain can be labeled accurately.
What remains uncertain
Research gaps
The available records cover only part of the defined research period.
This source area has not yet been reviewed for the current case.
The available records cover only part of the defined research period.
The available records cover only part of the defined research period.
The available records cover only part of the defined research period.
The available records cover only part of the defined research period.
The available records cover only part of the defined research period.