Key Takeaways:
– Alabama Governor Kay Ivey orders state flags to full-staff on Inauguration Day
– This decision is similar to Texas’ and is in direct opposition to the national mourning period for late President Jimmy Carter
– The flags will go back to half-staff on January 21 to continue the mourning period
– Ivey’s order cited federal law that lists occasions for flag display, including Inauguration Day
– The move by Trump’s allies echoes a 2018 incident when the White House prematurely re-raised its flag following Senator John McCain’s death
Governor Kay Ivey’s Stand
In scenes harking back to Texas Governor’s decision, Kay Ivey, Alabama’s Governor, revealed that she’ll order state flags to be at full-mast on the day Donald Trump takes office as the 47th president. This announcement is in direct conflict with the national mourning period currently observed for ex-Democratic President Jimmy Carter who passed away recently.
Carter’s Mourning Collides with Trump’s Inauguration
Despite being in the middle of a 30-day mourning period declared by President Joe Biden to honor Carter that started on December 29, several Republicans are pushing back. Their intent is dear – showing support for the incoming Trump administration. Governor Ivey voiced this sentiment in a directive she issued.
She stated: All flags on the Alabama State Capitol and all state buildings will return to full-staff on January 20, Inauguration Day. On January 21, the flags will lower to half-staff again, maintaining the mourning period for President Carter.
Ivey’s Letter to Alabama State Agencies
Ivey’s stand was expressed in a letter she sent out to all Alabama state agencies on the very same day. She drew upon a federal law as the rationale for her move. In her letter, she quoted the law that lists down all the occasions that merit flying of the U.S. flag, amongst them being Inauguration Day, January 20. On that basis, the flags at all state-run buildings in Alabama are to be raised and displayed in honor of the newly elected president, she noted.
Parallels Drawn to a Past Incident
This move by Alabama, following Texas’, harks back to a similar incident seven years prior when the flag was re-raised prematurely at the Trump White House in the wake of Senator John McCain’s death. McCain, who had a complicated relationship with Trump, died of brain cancer in August 2018.
Unique Timing in U.S. History
Trump’s inauguration also coincides with another significant event – Martin Luther King Jr. Day. This is hardly the norm in U.S. history, having only happened before during the inaugurations of President Bill Clinton in 1997 and President Barack Obama in 2013, both coinciding with the federal holiday.
The symbolism and events surrounding Inauguration Day will undoubtedly be remembered and dissected in the days and years to come. As the country braces for a shift in power, it will be interesting to see how other states react to this developments and manage the delicate balance between honoring a past president and celebrating a new one.