Today marks the one-year anniversary of the unveiling of the so-called “People’s Flag of Milwaukee.” Yes, on June 14, 2016, Milwaukee was gifted an alternate city flag that finally—finally!—conformed to the dearly held rules of good flag design, and finally—finally!—appeased professional Milwaukee-flag hater Roman Mars. “Sunrise Over The Lake,” by Robert Lenz, would now fly as a new symbol of Milwaukee pride, Milwaukee ingenuity, and Milwaukee-themed merchandise. The old, still-official official Milwaukee flag would be buried like the steaming pile of vexillology-defying dog shit it was. Anyone who dared suggest that hey, maybe this whole “People’s Flag” thing was kind of suspect, and hey, maybe the real Milwaukee flag, despite its flaws, was kind of charming, would be branded a change-adverse “hater” who deserved to go back to the ’50s or whatever and enjoy a city that didn’t have a flag that looked like a fucking iPhone app.
That last bit is where we come in. We haven’t been the biggest fans of the “People’s Flag,” and we’ve spilled plenty of digital ink explaining why. Yeah, probably too much digital ink. So here are all the things—articles, podcasts, videos, socks—we’ve published about the damn thing.
May 19, 2015
It’s Tuesday, which means it’s time to sign another petition to change Milwaukee’s flag
June 4, 2015
Save the Milwaukee flag! (The Disclaimer)
October 15, 2015
Okay, let’s talk about changing the Milwaukee flag (again) (The Disclaimer)
March 24, 2016
Is the “redesign the Milwaukee flag” thing REALLY trying to redesign the Milwaukee flag?
May 19, 2016
Yep, we’re still talking about the fucking Milwaukee flag (The Disclaimer)
June 13, 2016
I got a Milwaukee flag tattoo
June 14, 2016
Here’s the winner of the “People’s Flag of Milwaukee” contest, available now for $50
June 15, 2016
South Shore Frolics and “People’s Flag” pit old Milwaukee against new (The Disclaimer)
July 7, 2016
Poor turnout at “People’s Flag” meeting points to potential problems with “People’s Flag” movement
July 12, 2016
Introducing the “People’s Socks of Milwaukee”
November 16, 2016
The Randoms 2016: Best alternate alternate Milwaukee flag
February 24, 2017
People behind “People’s Flag of Milwaukee” still trying to make it the official flag of Milwaukee
June 8, 2017
Eau Claire and La Crosse are getting their own dumb “People’s Flags” (The Disclaimer)