They're Peddling Their Despicable Civic Shenanigans, Anti-Pinko Fun In Wollaston Options

[jonerik]

I can't believe I've missed this until now!

I just came back from walking into Wolly center and at the intersection of Beale and Hancock I saw these people protesting and handing out leaflets. One Chinese guy gave me a leaflet, and said something about "Chinese communists" and "the Chinese flag." One sign said "They're peddling their despicable civic shenanigans." Another said "Respect our veterans who fought against communism!" Another said something about 80,000,000 Chinese having died under communism. There were a couple of others, too.

So I stopped by the cigar store and asked the guy there what was up with the protesters. He said that a Chinese-American civic group had bought one of the buildings and had been flying the Chinese flag and the American flag next to each other, which pissed off a lot of local Chinese (and there are a lot of Chinese in Wollaston). The Quincy city council made the group take the Chinese flag down, and the group responded by taking both flags down.

Now the protesters want the group to shut down entirely. Here are some recent articles from the Patriot-Ledger about it.

Chinese flag stirs Quincy controversy

September 20, 2006


The Chinese United Association has raised the ire of Quincy residents by flying a Chinese flag alongside a U.S. flag on top of a building. (GREG DERR/The Patriot Ledger)

By CHRISTOPHER WALKER
The Patriot Ledger

QUINCY - John Wu Lin fled China’s communist regime a long time ago and reminders of his past are painful.

So when Lin was walking to the Wollaston T station the other day and saw a People’s Republic of China flag flying prominently next to an American flag atop a building in Wollaston Center, he was shocked.

‘‘That flag is not about Chinese heritage or our culture - it’s about a government that many of us tried to escape,’’ said Lin, who has lived in the city for 15 years.

Both the flag and a red, lighted sign heralding a new Asian American civic group will be removed, say city officials, who have received dozens of complaints from residents and passers-by.

The sign, with 2-foot tall letters in Chinese and English, does not meet local sign regulations, officials said. And a permit is needed to fly a flag in the city other than an American flag.

For some, the flag is more offensive than the sign.

Stephen Long of North Quincy said it isn’t right to hang a communist flag in the middle of the city.

‘‘Who cares about the sign - it has nothing to do with that,’’ said Long, who said he is a Vietnam-era Marine veteran. ‘‘That’s nothing unusual. But to have a communist flag up at the same level as ours in the middle of the city is a disgrace. People should think before they act.’’

Over the last two days, the city’s building department and the neighborhood’s local city councilor reported receiving more than 50 complaints about the size of the sign and placement of the flag.

Officials yesterday said that concerns have nothing to do with what the sign says but simply its size and aesthetic effect on a busy business district in the city. There are many signs around the city with both English and Chinese lettering, but none that loom so directly over an entire business district, officials said.

‘‘If the sign said ‘Welcome to the home of John Adams,’ I’d still be receiving the same number of phone calls,’’ said City Council President Douglas Gutro, whose Ward 5 district includes Wollaston Center.

Chief Building Inspector Jay Duca said yesterday that an inspection of the sign clearly shows it rising above the Hancock Street building’s roof-line - a violation of the city’s sign laws. He also said the civic group that erected the sign, the Chinese United Association, would need a permit to fly a People’s Republic of China flag.

Duca said the civic group acknowledged that it made a mistake, telling him that ‘‘they knew it pretty much right away when they put the sign up’’ late last week. He said he expects the group to file a new application for a smaller sign.

‘‘They, like anybody else, are entitled to put up a sign as long as we can make it work within the ordinance,’’ Duca said.

Added Mayor William Phelan:

‘‘We expect every property owner to comply with city ordinances. And if the sign doesn’t comply with city ordinances, we’ll take whatever action is necessary to ensure that it does.’’

The sign, reading ‘‘Chinese United Assn HQ USA,’’ and the flags rising above it are hard to miss in bustling Wollaston Center, atop the former Blackwood Pharmacy building, which is now home to an Asian bridal shop. Several times within an hour yesterday, passers-by stopped to look at the sign. It was major topic of discussion around the city over the last few days, especially at polling places during yesterday’s state primary.

Several people walking by the sign yesterday tempered their comments to make sure they weren’t making the issue into a racial or cultural one.

The Chinese United Association, started by a group of local Asian American businessmen, is a first-of-its-kind civic association for the city’s maturing Chinese population. Members of the group held their first induction ceremony last weekend at its small Hancock Street office, which located in the building underneath the sign.

Members of the group could not be reached for comment yesterday.

Christopher Walker may be reached at cwalker@ledger.com .

Copyright 2006 The Patriot Ledger


Quincy council on the Chinese flag flap: Be an American

October 04, 2006

BY CHRIS WALKER
The Patriot Ledger

QUINCY - City councilors railed against an Asian-American civic group for flying the communist Chinese flag atop a Wollaston Center building during a fiery debate that typified how divisive the issue has become in the last few weeks.

‘‘If you want to live in America, don’t be a hyphenated American,’’ said Ward 6 Councilor Brian McNamee. ‘‘Don’t keep one foot planted in your country of birth and another in this country. Put both feet firmly in America.’’

The flag of the People’s Republic of China was flown alongside the American flag for several days this month to mark the new headquarters of the Chinese United Association at the corner of Hancock and Beale streets in Wollaston.

Highly visible atop one of Wollaston’s largest buildings, the flag drew the ire of residents, Cold War-era veterans and even immigrants who see the yellow-starred flag as a clear symbol of the totalitarian Chinese government that forced them to come to the United States.

After raising the flag two weeks ago and taking it down amid questions over whether a permit was required, the civic group then raised it again this past weekend after being told by city officials that no permit was needed to hoist the flag. But the group has said it only flew the flag the second time as a part of Chinese Independence Day celebrations, and will wait until residents and community leaders weigh in before deciding whether to fly it permanently.

The flag was removed yesterday.

Council President Douglas Gutro, whose Ward 5 district includes Wollaston Center, broached the subject during last night’s council meeting, calling the issue the ‘‘most visceral, most emotional’’ issue he’s dealt with as a councilor.

That set off a string of commentary by other councilors, with all but two of nine members having something to say on the subject. Most councilors tried to stay away from free speech issues surrounding the flag’s presence, with a consensus emerging that regardless of its legal rights, the Chinese United Association should display better neighborly skills by not flying the flag of a Communist nation held in contempt by so many.

‘‘This was just wrong under any standard of decency, and we have a right to protest it,’’ said Ward 2 Councilor Daniel Raymondi, who chastised Mayor William Phelan for not taking a leadership role in the controversy.

The city’s building department told the organization that a separate sign, featuring bold lighted lettering, would need to be removed because it was too big. Inspectors also initially interpreted city law to require a permit to fly the Chinese flag, but later revised that decision and told the group it didn’t need a permit.

Councilor at large John Keenan focused on legal language, suggesting that the city’s sign laws left at least enough gray area to merit a discussion of the issue.

City Solicitor Monica Conyngham countered that the city has never required any other group or person to get a permit to fly a national flag. Starting now, she said, wouldn’t pass muster in court.

The two went back and forth over the intricacies of sign standards, with Keenan suggesting that city hall was ducking legitimate building code questions because of taboo.

‘‘So if a landlord can put up 15 significant flagpoles over a public way to fly the American flag, the Irish flag, the Polish flag, etc., we don’t have the authority to make sure it is done safely?’’ Keenan asked. ‘‘This is not about content; it’s about the structure.’’

All but one of the seven councilors who spoke last night were critical of the organization’s actions, but Ward 4 Councilor Jay Davis said ‘‘there isn’t much the city can do’’ on the issue.

‘‘My suggestion would be to give people the telephone number and address of this group and if they are upset, they can call or protest. That’s the difference between us and Communist China. We can protest.’’

Ward 3 Councilor Kevin Counghlin and Ward 1 Councilor Leo Kelly both said the civic group should remove the flag permanently.

Flag flap unfurls

—Sept. 17 - Chinese United Association moves into new headquarters in North Quincy.

—Sept. 20 -
City says 50 people complain about Chinese flag flying over building.

—Sept. 21 - Flag comes down after city says permit needed to fly it.

—Sept. 22 -
Flag raised again, taken down after a Vietnam veteran begins protest across the street.

—Saturday - Flag flown in honor of Chinese Independence Day after city says no permit needed.

—Monday - Association says it will talk with neighbors before flying the flag permanently.

—Yesterday - Flag taken down. Discussion at city council meeting.

Copyright 2006 The Patriot Ledger



Flag down, protests go on; Pickets’ new aim: Shutting down Chinese civic club

October 16, 2006


From left, Vernon Whitman, Peter Hood and Russ Breen protest in front of the Quincy Chinese United Association building. (JEFF LOUGHLIN/The Patriot Ledger)

By RACHEL SLAJDA
The Patriot Ledger

QUINCY - An Asian-American civic association is no longer displaying the Chinese national flag atop its building, but that hasn’t deterred protesters who continue to picket outside the organization, which they want shut down.

‘‘That flag stands for everything that we’re against,’’ said David Dee Lawson of Quincy, a Marine veteran of the Vietnam War who organized a protest Saturday and yesterday outside the Chinese United Association in Wollaston Center.

About a dozen protesters, many of them veterans, manned the intersection at Beale and Hancock streets, waving American flags and signs. They are still upset about the association’s decision to fly the Communist country’s flag twice in recent weeks.

Association leaders have said the flag is a proud link to an ancient cultural heritage. But protesters see it as a symbol of a totalitarian regime.

The flag and the association’s name atop its building have been removed, but the protest was aimed at shutting down the association, which Lawson alleged has connections to the repressive Chinese government.

Representatives of the association could not be reached for comment.

Veterans were joined by a few Chinese immigrants who came out to protest amid the honking horns of motorists.

‘‘The flag strikes fear for Chinese people,’’ said Kam Chou, a Chinese immigrant who has lived 14 years in Quincy, speaking through a translator.

About the Chinese government, he said, ‘‘People ran from it, risking their lives to get out of the country.

‘‘We hope these flags are not brought to the United States.’’

According to Suan Kuo, a Vietnamese immigrant who lives in Melrose and translated for Chou, most Chinese immigrants object to the flag but are afraid to speak up.

Chinese immigrants are threatened with a phone call from the Chinese government that their families back in China will not be safe, Kuo said. They are also told that they will not be allowed to go back to China, he said.

A ‘‘deep love’’ for their culture and families is ‘‘a little bit too much to give up’’ by protesting, Kuo said.

The association flew the flag twice in September, first to celebrate its opening on Hancock Street and a second time to mark the Chinese independence day.

The flags were removed after dozens of residents complained. The city council decided a permit was unnecessary to fly the flag, but several councilors urged Mayor William Phelan to ask the association not to fly the flag any more.

The group has said it will speak with members of the community before it flies the flag again.

Several protesters expressed disappointment with Phelan, who has defended the association’s right to free speech. One woman, Irene Stokes, 75, held a sign with the phone number of the mayor’s office.

‘‘When I looked up and I saw the flag, it got me,’’ Stokes said. ‘‘It’s not right.’’

She said phone calls to the mayor were not returned. He could not be reached for comment last night.

‘‘Let them put it in their home, outside their home, that’s fine,’’ she said, but it’s inappropriate to fly it over a busy intersection in Wollaston.

‘‘It’s still America,’’ she said.

Rachel Slajda may be reached at rslajda@ledger.com .

Copyright 2006 The Patriot Ledger

[dimenno]

[dimenno]

[MrCheese]

Show your patriotism with those bumper sticker yellow ribbons and magnets that were made in China.

[HereWeGoSouthie]

JE - you need to dive into your city politicvs more!

This story has been the ongoing scandal and source of hilarity for the past month in the Quincy Sun!

It's cool actually, watching crusty old Irish American WWII, Korea, and Viet nam vets protesting with anti-Communist Chionese & Falun Gong practioners.

[jonerik]

JE - you need to dive into your city politicvs more!

This story has been the ongoing scandal and source of hilarity for the past month in the Quincy Sun!

It's cool actually, watching crusty old Irish American WWII, Korea, and Viet nam vets protesting with anti-Communist Chionese & Falun Gong practioners.

I work until 8 most weeknights. I don't think I've seen the local evening news since April. If it doesn't hit the Boston or national press, then I tend not to hear about it, and I don't think has been an issue that's registered with either. Trust me. I'm disappointed I haven't heard about this until now, too. I don't think I've seen anti-communist protesters in 20 years now. There was a certain sense of nostalgia about it.

[JodyThePig]

I don't think I've seen anti-communist protesters in 20 years now. There was a certain sense of nostalgia about it.

Wistful.

I've still got a Red under my bed, but only because I didn't have the heart to shoo him away when rent control ended.

[EricDoberman]

Wistful.

I've still got a Red under my bed, but only because I didn't have the heart to shoo him away when rent control ended.

If you love someone set them free. He'll be happier in Somerville with his friends. They can get ridiculed by hipsters, townies and Brazilians like, communally, man.

[dimenno]

[Mike C]

"Children fight over pretty flags", would be the perfect newspaper headline for this story.

[dimenno]

[dimenno]

[dimenno]

[HereWeGoSouthie]

"Children fight over pretty flags", would be the perfect newspaper headline for this story.

Maybe it's me, but I wouldn't call men/women who were persecuted for practcing religion or who fought in wars children.

Their leaders maybe.

This post has been edited by HereWeGoSouthie: Oct 21 2006, 05:14 PM

[dimenno]

Maybe it's me, but I wouldn't call men/women who were persecuted for practcing religion or who fought in wars children.

Their leaders maybe.

Try "the squabbling of mites on a plum."

[Mark VI]

JE - you need to dive into your city politicvs more!

This story has been the ongoing scandal and source of hilarity for the past month in the Quincy Sun!

It's cool actually, watching crusty old Irish American WWII, Korea, and Viet nam vets protesting with anti-Communist Chionese & Falun Gong practioners.

true. they were out there last weekend, too.

[MrCheese]

"Despicable civic shenanigans" sounds like a Madlibs phrase.

[dimenno]

Spray it, like Daffy Duck.

[jonerik]

Awesome. Got any EC covers?

[jonerik]

true. they were out there last weekend, too.

The funny thing is that I was out last Saturday to go to the John and John Quincy Adams houses. And I didn't see those guys at all. I'd certainly have remembered it if I had.

[tom from out of town]

I don't think I've seen anti-communist protesters in 20 years now. There was a certain sense of nostalgia about it.

When I first came to Providence in 1977, there was an American Legion hall on Smith Street about a quarter mile from the state house that had a big sign on the side that I assume dated from the fifties:

"The American Legion and Legion Auxiliary - America's Last Bulwark Against Communism"

I was bummed when I drove past there a couple of years after graduating and it was gone.

[jonerik]

When I first came to Providence in 1977, there was an American Legion hall on Smith Street about a quarter mile from the state house that had a big sign on the side that I assume dated from the fifties:

"The American Legion and Legion Auxiliary - America's Last Bulwark Against Communism"

I was bummed when I drove past there a couple of years after graduating and it was gone.

When I was in high school (this was around 1980 or '81, I think) a friend and I were hanging out on the bleachers in the gym and I found a pamphlet which argued that the Book of Revelation stated explicitly that Soviet T-72 tanks were going to shortly roll across the plains of West Germany.

[TheDanguardAce]

When I was in high school (this was around 1980 or '81, I think) a friend and I were hanging out on the bleachers in the gym and I found a pamphlet which argued that the Book of Revelation stated explicitly that Soviet T-72 tanks were going to shortly roll across the plains of West Germany.

Well there's no more Soviet Union but the T-72 is still in service right ?
A guy can dream cant he?

[teenbillybaby]

...He said that a Chinese-American civic group had bought one of the buildings and had been flying the Chinese flag and the American flag next to each other, which pissed off a lot of local Chinese (and there are a lot of Chinese in Wollaston).

My sense is that most Chinese people were fine with the two flags. Except the Falun Gong ones. I go to a lot of Asian events in Quincy (like August Moon at Kam Man and the Asian New Year thing at NQ High) and the Chinese flag is seen routinely at these events in displays and such.

It's hard for me to see how Wollaston's Chinese community cannot feel unwelcomed by this flag protest mess.

‘‘If you want to live in America, don’t be a hyphenated American,’’ said Ward 6 Councilor Brian McNamee. ‘‘Don’t keep one foot planted in your country of birth and another in this country. Put both feet firmly in America.’’

This ^^^ is the part that really gags me. McNamee and probably ~20% of the residents in his ward sport Irish flags on their cars and houses. And then he comes out with this!! Hellooo!!

[Bad Jack Olson]

This ^^^ is the part that really gags me. McNamee and probably ~20% of the residents in his ward sport Irish flags on their cars and houses. And then he comes out with this!! Hellooo!!

I agree totally (with you, not him!), and it's probably a hell of a lot more than 20%. What a pandering douchebag. If anyone spots him around town on St. Patrick's Day wearing a shamrock pin, please punch him in the dick.