The Orange County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday agreed to replace the state flags in a plaza next to the Central Justice Center courthouse in Santa Ana with the flags of the county’s cities, among others.
The switch would be done as a way to remove Mississippi’s flag, which bears the Confederate flag’s saltire, in the Plaza of the Flags.
Last month, South Carolina removed a Confederate flag from the state capitol, following similar moves to take down the symbol in the wake of a deadly church shooting in Charleston, South Carolina.
The Civic Center Authority, which has representatives of Santa Ana and the county serving on it, will meet Thursday to discuss adopting the plan to raise the city flags.
The plan is to raise the flags of the county’s 36 cities as well as the flags of the county, the state, the United States, the five branches of the armed services and one representing prisoners of war.
“This is a really good idea,” Supervisor Michelle Steel said. “I think it is really good we are working with every city.”
Supervisor Shawn Nelson questioned the need for any flags in the plaza.
Supervisor Andrew Do said the flags provide a good civics lesson for the area’s youths.
“I do believe that it does teach our children an appreciation of” government, Do said. “I think the benefit far outweighs the price.”
Nelson scoffed at that notion.
“How’s anyone learning about the county by walking through the circles of the state’s flags?” Nelson said.