Updated at 9:42 a.m. on Thursday, December 1, 2016: A Hampshire College spokesperson said the phone call has been rescheduled for Friday morning.
Springfield Mayor Domenic Sarno will talk to the president of Hampshire College to try and convince him to raise the campus’ American flag again.
RELATED: Neal And McGovern Want Hampshire College To Raise Flag
RELATED: Vets Protest Hampshire College’s Decision To Remove American Flag
Sarno showed up at a protest on Sunday and later was interviewed on Fox News to criticize Hampshire’s decision to temporarily remove the flag. The college is about 20 miles outside of Springfield, in Amherst.
“I concentrate 110 percent on what I have to do here in Springfield, but I have a very close relationship with veterans,” Sarno said when asked Wednesday why he was spending time on an issue outside of Springfield. “Many of times people wonder [whether] elected officials have the intestinal fortitude to step up and lead. And I’ll tell you, I’ve been receiving — not only locally — but around the country, support on…taking up this fight.”
Sarno added that he’s trying “to be constructive about this.”
To be involved in other jurisdictions, that is not his place,” said Springfield resident Chester Dymek.
But others we talked to approve of Sarno’s participation. Stacy Smith said the mayor should speak up on behalf of his city.
The Western Mass. area isn’t just Springfield or it’s not just Amherst — it’s not just one town. We’re all together,” Smith said. “So for each town to reach out and try and help and see what’s going on in each different town, it’s a good sense of community.”
Hampshire College resident Jonathan Lash announced the flag’s removal following a flag-burning on campus after the election. He said the flag had become a heated symbol that was preventing discussions about discriminatory rhetoric and behavior.
New England Public Radio’s Kari Njiiri contributed to this report.