Judge dismisses challenge to Michigan town's refusal to display pride flag

The city's population is roughly 40% foreign-born and the council itself is all-Muslim.

Published: September 10, 2025 11:08am

A federal judge this week dismissed a lawsuit against the city of Hamtramck, Mich., after the city approved a policy limiting the city's display of flags to the U.S. flag, the city flag, and three flags representing the immigrant communities in the city.

The decision comes more than two years after the city adopted the policy. U.S. District Judge David Lawson dismissed the suit, saying "Hamtramck’s refusal to display the Gay Pride flag did not violate the Constitution." Lawson specifically highlighted that the city policy banned all private flags, not merely the pride flag, Fox News reported.

"This Council believes in fairness, neutrality towards our residents, and the rule of law, amongst other things for this community. We passed a resolution recently to do just that, and two of our sworn commissioners outright defied it, and did what they wanted," City Councilor Khalil Refai said.

The city's population is roughly 40% foreign-born and the council itself is all Muslim.

Ben Whedon is the Chief Political Correspondent at Just the News. Follow him on X.

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