The Johnson County Board of Supervisors Chairperson has said no to Gov. Kim Reynolds’ order to lower the flag of public places to half-staff in honor of the assassinated conservative Charlie Kirk.
John Green posted to social media that “personal authority as chairman of the Johnson County Board of Supervisors” would have led him to social media that Iowa City’s home base and the University of Iowa counties ignored the governor’s orders.
While condemning Kirk’s murder, Democrat Green wrote that he would not be honored by Johnson County to anyone who gave him the honor of Johnson County and vowed to the pledge I had vowed to protect, not only marginalised, but also did much to degrade the political structure of our bodies.
“The Johnson County flag will fly as usual. For my decision, whether it’s legal or election, it’s just mine,” he wrote.
Greene could not immediately comment. His message sparked a swift responsibilities from Reynolds and Republican Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird.
“It is dishonorable that local elected officials chose to place politics above human decency in these times,” Reynolds said in her X-account.
A call to Reynolds’ office was not immediately returned.
“It is heartfelt disgrace that our state leaders refuse to respect American freedom and freedom of speech principles,” Byrd wrote in her X account.
Worlds disagrees with the decision. Two other supervisors confirm this
At least one Johnson County-based Democrat opposed Green’s decision. State Sen. Zach Walls, who represents parts of Johnson County and is running for the U.S. Senate seat, which will be held when current Republican Sen. Joni Ernst completes her term in early 2027, told reporters Friday that he had not agreed to Greene.
“I don’t think that’s the right decision,” he said. “I think they should follow the governor’s direction on this topic,” he added.
Worles called it killing the latest in a series of political violence nationwide, including the assassination of Minnesota House Speaker Emerita Melissa Hortman and her husband and attempts to address President Donald Trump’s life.
“I condemn political violence on the strongest possible conditions,” he said. “My prayers are his widow and his two young children. You know, this is a country where we resolve our arguments with words and arguments, not weapons and violence, and we absolutely need leaders who work to try and lower the temperature.”
Green’s actions came without discussion from the other four members of the board (all Democrats), but at least two supported it.
“We are proud to see our county and our sincere support chair John Greene rebelling against the governor’s orders,” Director v Fixmer-Oraiz wrote in an email to the Des Moines Register. “I do not tolerate any kind of violence. I will continue to stand up to marginalized and underrepresented residents. I cannot overlook Charlie Kirk’s message of hatred.”
Supervisor Mandy Remington said, “While I condemn political violence, lowering our county flag is an honor that should reflect the values of our community. Charlie Kirk has spent his career alienating LGBTQ+ people, undermining women’s rights, and separating our nation along the lines of hatred and exclusion.”
“Johnson County is home to a diverse community, including many people who are direct targets of Kirk’s rhetoric,” writes Remington. “To respect him with our flag is to dismiss the harm he caused to our neighbors and members. I assert that our supervisors will not elevate the voices that our county works to strip others of dignity, freedom and belonging.
Rod Sullivan, Johnson County’s longest extended supervisor, emphasized that Greene acted without discussing his decision with other boards. However, Sullivan also expressed his dissatisfaction with the flag protocol in an interview with the Register.
“You know, I’m honestly a bit annoyed with the (flag) flying protocol because a lot of people follow them when they want to follow them and don’t follow them when they don’t want to follow them. And I think that applies to the governor and the president too.”
“This is the least of my worries, right now, as everything seems so violent, right?” he said he believes that lowering the flag should be reserved for certain military personnel and elected officials.
Johnson County’s fifth supervisor, Lisa Greendouglas, did not immediately reply to an email seeking comment.
With at least one measure, Johnson County has the most democratic trend in Iowa, giving Kamala Harris the largest proportional vote, 68.4% in the 2024 presidential election.
Order the flags for half staff up to Sunday
Reynolds’ order honored Kirk in all public places, from September 11th to Sunday through Sunday, Sunday, asking half staff to fly the flag and encouraged individuals and businesses to follow.
President Donald Trump issued a similar order. The order coincided with an earlier order to order flags that were flying with half staff on September 11th, commemorating the victims of the 2001 911 attack.
US Rep. Mariannette Miller Meeks, a Republican who includes Iowa City, is asking in a post to X that it will be named after Kirk for the University of Iowa’s new center for intellectual freedom.
Staff writer Stephen Gruber-Miller contributed to this article.
Kevin Baskins covers the job and economy of the Des Moines registration. Contact him at kbaskins@registermedia.com.
