The chairman of the board of supervisors in Johnson County, Iowa, stated the county will defy an order from state Gov. Kim Reynolds to fly flags at half-staff in reminiscence of Kirk.
The chairman, Jon Inexperienced, stated in a post on Facebook final evening that Kirk didn’t encourage inclusivity.
“I condemn Kirk’s killing, no matter who pulled the set off or why,” Inexperienced said. “However I cannot grant Johnson County honors to a person who made it his life’s mission to denigrate so lots of the constituents I’ve sworn an oath to guard, and who did a lot to hurt not solely the marginalized, but additionally to degrade the material of our physique politic.”
Inexperienced stated he made the choice below his personal authority.
“Any blowback belongs to me alone, and I settle for that,” he stated in an interview with NBC Information immediately.
Inexperienced stated he made the choice to fly county flags at half employees in mourning for Minnesota Rep. Melissa Hortman in June, after she was killed in a politically motivated assassination, criticizing the governor as a result of she “stated nothing” of the incident.
“I stand by that dedication and I stand by the choice I made immediately,” he stated, including “the governor is aware of the place to search out me.”
In a statement Wednesday, Reynold’s workplace ordered flags to be flown at half-staff “as a mark of respect in reminiscence of Charlie Kirk.” It is not clear if the order, which extends from Wednesday by way of Sunday, applies to Johnson County and different counties.
Within the assertion, the governor’s workplace stated the Capitol and Capitol Advanced will fly flags at half-staff, in addition to “all public buildings, grounds, and services all through the state.” Nevertheless, the assertion additionally signifies county governments can resolve on their very own.
“People, companies, faculties, municipalities, counties, and different authorities subdivisions are inspired to fly the flag at half-staff for a similar size of time as an indication of respect,” the governor’s workplace stated.
Immediately, Reynolds instructed Inexperienced’s choice was not befitting the second.
“It’s disgraceful {that a} locally-elected official has chosen to place politics above human decency throughout a time like this,” she said on X.
Reynolds’ workplace didn’t reply to a request for remark.
Johnson County is the house of the College of Iowa and has a inhabitants of roughly 153,360, in keeping with the U.S. Census Bureau.
