Mayor Steinberg calls for repeal of City requirement to stand, salute during national anthem

Mayor Darrell Steinberg calls for repeal of requirement to stand, salute, during national anthem

Mayor Darrell Steinberg Tuesday called on his colleagues to join him in repealing the City ordinance that requires people to stand and salute the flag when the national anthem is played at ceremonies and “at the close of concerts, theatres, etc.”

Mayor Steinberg said he would place the proposed recall on the agenda of the next City Council meeting on July 28.

It will take a simple majority vote of the City Council to remove the requirement, which was adopted in 1928. Mayor Steinberg said he and other city leaders were unaware that the requirement existed in city code until a Nevada man filed a lawsuit on July 1 challenging the ordinance.

“There is simply no place today for such required displays of allegiance,” Mayor Steinberg said. “This antiquated statute is particularly offensive given the recent proud actions of athletes and others taking a knee when the anthem is played. Principled protest is the epitome of patriotism.”

The Sacramento City Council adopted the ordinance in May 1928 at the request of the Veterans of Foreign Wars as part of a package of protocols on handling the flag. Its language is as follows:

The song, “The Star-Spangled Banner,” is recognized as the national anthem of the United States. When this music is played on a proper occasion during ceremonials, at the close of concerts, theatres, etc., all present shall stand at attention, facing, or, if no flag is displayed, facing the music, and shall render the salute to the flag.”