Clifton officials voted down a proposal that would've ended individual cultural flag-raising ceremonies at City Hall.

The proposal, discussed during a special City Council meeting Wednesday night, would've instead created an annual International Cultural Day to recognize the city's diverse communities.

Mayor Raymond Grabowski said the city is struggling to keep up with the consistent demand to acknowledge individual countries.

"So now it's getting a little overwhelming. We're not too sure where we should go with this," said Grabowski.

The discussion drew strong opinions from residents, many of whom spoke in favor of continuing individual flag-raising ceremonies.

"There is a time and place for multicultural festivals, and we can absolutely celebrate our diversity together, but a flag-raising ceremony has its own meaning," said one resident at the Wednesday meeting.

Others argued the festivities are relatively simple to put on.

"We raise the flag for a few days, and it stays alongside the United States flag, always lower than it," another resident said. "Sometimes there's music, sometimes there's dancing. That is literally it."

However, some residents supported changing the current practice, saying cultural celebrations could continue without individual flag raisings at City Hall.

"You don't have to raise it in front of the city and take up the time of the council," said one speaker.

Councilwoman Mary Sadrakula questioned what could happen if hate groups wanted to do flag raisings.

But many residents rejected that comparison, arguing that cultural organizations seeking recognition are not comparable to extremist groups.

"Hate groups do not represent taxpaying constituents of this city and have no place in civic celebrations," one resident said.

Another speaker said Clifton's cultural communities should be able to celebrate their identities individually while remaining united as a city.

"A community can contain many identities, like Clifton, and all of those identities can stand side by side under one nation," the resident said.