EXCLUSIVE: Washington school district refused to keep flags at half-staff for Charlie Kirk through Sunday

The Kent School District (KSD) in Washington state has confirmed that it intentionally did not follow national and state directives to keep flags at half-staff through Sunday in honor of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, who was assassinated last week during a speaking event in Utah. Instead, the district instructed schools to return flags to full staff on Friday, claiming Kirk, “has made public statements that conflict with the values of inclusivity, respect, and student safety that we as a District strive to uphold.”

Parents and community members told The Ari Hoffman Show on Talk Radio 570 KVI that when they called the superintendent’s office to ask about the decision, they were told the district was “not participating.”

On Wednesday, President Donald Trump directed flags nationwide to be lowered in Kirk’s honor. Washington Governor Bob Ferguson announced that the state would comply, but his proclamation went further. In addition to Kirk, Ferguson ordered that flags also be lowered for Minnesota House Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark, Democrats who were killed in June, as well as for “all victims of political violence.” 

The move prompted questions from critics as to why Ferguson had not issued his proclamation for those Democrats in June and whether the expanded scope was politically motivated.

An internal email obtained by Hoffman, sent Friday by Gordon Cook, the district’s facilities director and a city council member in Algona, instructed staff: “All these schools need to raise their flags to full mast.”

That email came even though Trump’s and Ferguson’s proclamations had directed flags in Washington to remain at half-staff through Sunday.

In response to backlash over its own decision, KSD issued a statement entitled “Upholding Our Values: A Statement on Flag Protocol and Ethical Leadership.” The district said it had lowered flags on September 11 to mark the anniversary of the terrorist attacks, but did not view itself as obligated to comply with other proclamations.

“Kent School District (KSD) is committed to upholding our core values of equity, excellence, and community,” the statement read. “On September 11, KSD’s flags were lowered to half-staff in solemn remembrance of the lives lost and the courage shown on that day, a tradition we honor with deep respect.

“Different governmental entities have different policies regarding flag displays. Washington State law (RCW 28A.230.140) requires the District to display the United States flag during school hours, except during inclement weather. The law does not require us to lower the flag to half-staff in any particular instance, nor when another governmental entity may choose to do so," the statement continued.

“As educators and public servants, we believe symbolic acts such as lowering the flag should reflect the principles we work to instill in our students and community. When a person has made public statements that conflict with the values of inclusivity, respect, and student safety that we as a District strive to uphold, we may choose not to fly the flag at half-staff.

“Our decision reflects both our compliance with Washington State law and our unwavering commitment to ethical leadership and educational equity.”