Aitken Redesign

“Change is Inevitable. Progress is optional.” On November 18, 2015 the 50 state flags circling the Plaza of the Flags at the Orange County Civic Center were removed in response to public objection over the display of the Mississippi state flag. As President of the Orange County Bar Association (OCBA), Ashleigh Aitken was invited to speak at the ceremony along with Todd Spitzer, chairman of the Orange County Board of Supervisors, and Donald Craig, Orange County NAACP president.

The Los Angeles Times reports that the idea for removing the Mississippi state flag, which bears a Confederate battle cross in the upper left-hand corner often associated with racism, was first proposed by the OCBA in 2013. Ashleigh told reporters that the issue was of particular importance because of the flag’s proximity to the county’s central courthouse. “It’s important, both for our lawyers and for our clients, that when we go into the courthouse and advocate for equality, justice and due process before the law that we don’t walk outside that same courthouse and see something that’s a symbol of oppression, inequality and divisiveness,” she said.

Rather than singling out Mississippi by removing its flag or replacing it, Todd Spitzer said he wanted to do something affirmative.

Now, thirty years after the state flags were first installed, The OC Register explains that the plaza has replaced the 50 state flags with new flags which include the flags of the 34 cities of Orange County, the U.S. Flag, the flags of five branches of the armed services, and the POW/MIA flag.

Aitken Aitken Cohn is proud to support efforts of progress within the community and especially proud to have our own Ashleigh Aitken leading the charge.

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