Firefighters Defy Dem Governor to Honor Charlie Kirk with Flags at Half-Staff
The Democratic mayor of Aurora, Illinois, has ordered city buildings to fly the American flag at full staff, openly defying proclamations from both President Donald J. Trump and Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker following the assassination of Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk.
Tyler Robinson was arrested and charged with killing Kirk on Wednesday during a TPUSA “Prove Me Wrong” event at Utah Valley University. The shocking political assassination drew bipartisan proclamations to lower the nation’s flags in mourning — but Aurora’s mayor, John Laesch, refused.
President Trump directed flags to fly at half-staff beginning Wednesday in Kirk’s honor. Pritzker issued his own proclamation Friday, vaguely citing “victims of political violence” without naming Kirk.
But a memo from Aurora Fire Chief David McCabe, circulated on social media and confirmed by local sources, made Laesch’s defiance official:
“Good morning, all. As directed by the mayor, all City of Aurora buildings, including the fire stations, are to have their flags at full staff,” McCabe wrote. “I know everyone has their own opinion on whether the flag should be at full or half-staff, but that is irrelevant. Someone will be coming around to raise all station flags to full staff.”
The memo further warned that any attempt to return flags to half-staff would be treated as “a violation of a direct order.”
Local firefighters resisted being made part of the controversy, with the union reportedly securing an agreement that no members would be forced to raise the flags themselves. Instead, video posted to X by retired firefighter Franck Ricci showed Assistant Fire Chief of Operations Matt Anslow moving the flag to full staff.
“In flagrant disregard for unity, the mayor and chief raised the flags, chasing cheap political points over national mourning, exposing the left’s relentless pursuit of division over decency,” Ricci told the Daily Caller News Foundation.
Aurora’s order directly conflicted with Trump’s proclamation, which called for flags to remain at half-staff until sunset on Sept. 14. Pritzker’s directive, also expiring Sept. 14, aligned with the president’s timeline, though his wording conspicuously omitted Kirk’s name.
Laesch later attempted to justify his decision, issuing a statement reported by Fox 32 Chicago:
“Our focus was on remembering the lives lost on September 11th. On Friday, our flags were raised again as we moved forward, carrying with us the spirit and memory of those who died,” he said. “I recognize that some employees and community members may not agree with this decision, but lowering the flag is a solemn act that carries great weight. The choice to do so should not be made cavalierly. Doing so diminishes the importance of the remembrance of tragedies like September 11, 2001.”
Laesch’s statement made no reference to Kirk — a Chicago-area native who grew up less than an hour from Aurora.
Aurora is not alone in bucking Trump’s order. Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass likewise directed flags to remain at full staff, while in Iowa, Johnson County Board of Supervisors Chairman Jon Green said he would ignore Republican Gov. Kim Reynolds’ proclamation lowering flags in Kirk’s honor.
Neither Laesch nor Chief McCabe responded to requests for comment.