Multiple Baker City residents are calling for Mayor Matt Diaz to resign after he shared an item on his personal Facebook page last weekend that showed a collage of four Pride flags, a symbol of support for gay, lesbian and transgender people and other minorities, arranged to form a swastika.

June is Pride Month, and a variety of events to celebrate diversity are scheduled, including a walk in Baker City on Friday, June 23 starting at 6 p.m. at Central Park and continuing to Geiser-Pollman Park.

Diaz, in a statement posted to his Facebook page Tuesday afternoon, June 20, denied any racial animus in the post, which was shared as a story and was on his page for about 24 hours.

“I am in no way a racist as some have claimed as a result of this post,” Diaz wrote.

“I do not support racism in any form as we are all created in the image of God and the color of our skin or the nation of our birth is not enough to condemn us. To judge someone on the superficial things that cannot be changed, instead of the fruit of their character, is a foolish endeavor and should have no place in a civilized society.”

Several residents who wrote letters to the city and to the Baker City Herald called for Diaz to resign.

“At best the choice to post that displays a lack of social awareness and common courtesy,” Cynthia Roberts wrote in a letter to the Herald. “I’m sure the post was threatening to some people and disgusting to most people. It can not be lightly dismissed as a joke.The post suggests that our mayor feels pride in Nazi ideology. Matt Diaz should not be mayor of Baker City nor should he be allowed to remain on the city council. He is an embarrassment and lacks the wisdom to be a leader of any kind.”

Barbara Meyer of Baker City wrote that she is “deeply saddened and offended about his attack on the LGBTQ and Jewish members of our community. This was very divisive and unbecoming of a Council member ‘Mayor.’ If there is a different meaning than what I’m understanding I would love to hear his explanation.”

Mary Miller of Baker City, in a letter to the Herald that she also sent to Diaz, called the post “a slap in the face of all Americans that fought and died in WWII to liberate persecuted people from the tyranny of Nazi Germany. Any Jewish citizens living in our city I’m sure are hurt and horrified. You not only need to issue an immediate apology to all citizens of Baker City; you should also resign. I do not wish to see you in ANY leadership role in Baker City, as you have just shown that you are unfit for leadership.”

Baker City officials posted a statement Tuesday on the city’s Facebook page addressing Diaz’s post and complaints about it.

City Manager Jonathan Cannon said the city received phone calls about Diaz’s post. Cannon said he reviewed and approved the statement on the city’s page.

“In light of the phone calls and confusion about what city staff can or cannot do regarding a personal social media account, I felt it important to clarify that city staff cannot regulate a personal Facebook account of elected officials,” Cannon wrote in an email to the Herald on Wednesday morning. “I also thought it important that the community understands that Baker City is in compliance and will continue to be in compliance with all state and federal discrimination laws.”

The statement on the city’s Facebook page reads:

“Dear Baker City Community,

“We would like to address the recent social media post made by Matt Diaz (city mayor) on his personal page. While we understand the concerns raised by many community members regarding this social media post. It is essential to clarify that as a city municipality, we cannot control the personal social media activities of our elected officials.

“We strongly condemn any form of discriminatory behavior. Baker City is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer and is committed to following all state and federal discrimination laws.

“Baker City strives to ensure that every member of our community feels safe, valued, and supported, regardless of their race, ethnicity, religion, or any other characteristic.”

Diaz was elected as mayor by his fellow city councilors on April 11, the same meeting at which councilors voted 4-2 to remove Beverly Calder as mayor after Councilor Dean Guyer criticized Calder for writing a letter to the editor of the Herald that called into question City Manager Jonathan Cannon’s management of the city’s budget. The council elected her as mayor Jan. 3. Per Baker City’s charter, the elected councilors, not voters, choose the mayor.

Diaz wrote in an email to the Baker City Herald on Tuesday, June 20, prior to posting his response to criticism, that the collage he shared “was posted in a story, which is not the same (as) being posted on a Facebook page. Stories only stay published for 24 hours as far as I know. As for my critics, they are welcome to ask my thoughts on anything I have posted or said without using a middle man.”

The collage of four pride flags arranged to depict a swastika has been an internet meme for at least a year.

Laurence Fox, a British political activist, posted the meme in June 2022. The Holocaust Memorial Day Trust condemned the collage.

In his response, Diaz wrote: “The post in question was meant to illustrate how the DEI or “woke” ideology is being propagandized and militantly forced on American society and culture using the same psychological tactics used by the Nazi party in the 1930s-1940s. It was meant to demonstrate how this movement, under the guise of inclusion and affirmation, is attacking the very foundation of America’s Judeo-Christian values, a movement that some of our citizens have been thoroughly indoctrinated into. It was meant to show the likeness between the two factions.”

“I am in no way a racist as some have claimed as a result of this post. I do not support racism in any form as we are all created in the image of God and the color of our skin or the nation of our birth is not enough to condemn us. To judge someone on the superficial things that cannot be changed, instead of the fruit of their character, is a foolish endeavor and should have no place in a civilized society. That being said, the fruit of one’s character is a direct reflection of their value system.

“As in everything, my opinion is irrelevant. As a disciple of Christ, I know exactly how flawed my human thinking is. I am not God. To that end, allow me to apologize for any misunderstanding from that post, in the context of racism. I am not a Nazi sympathizer or supporter, nor will I ever endorse the actions of those that are. I also hold no hate for those who choose a different lifestyle, religion, or sexual preference than my own. One of my favorite things about our Constitution is that it guarantees every citizen the right to choose to live however they wish, as long as those choices don’t infringe on the rights of others.

“The post in question was meant to illustrate how the DEI or “woke” ideology is being propagandized and militantly forced on American society and culture using the same psychological tactics used by the Nazi party in the 1930s – 1940s. It was meant to demonstrate how this movement, under the guise of inclusion and affirmation, is attacking the very foundation of America’s Judeo-Christian values, a movement that some of our citizens have been thoroughly indoctrinated into. It was meant to show the likeness between the two factions. This is not a political issue as some have stated, but an issue of American values and morality. As a man of faith and a veteran surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses and fellow veterans, I hold dear the oath I took when I enlisted to defend the Constitution and be a part of preserving our Republic. That preservation starts right here in Baker City using tools like Facebook to speak out against ideas that ultimately harm the families and nation that was built and protected by men and women willing to stand for what they believe in.”

“I was shocked when I first saw Matt’s post and I took it as a direct assault against people I love, both survivors of the atrocities of the Nazi regime and family, friends and neighbors.

His response was even more offensive. He called diversity, equity and inclusion an “ideology” that was being propagandized and equated it to the tactics of the Nazi party. He stated that the desire for fairness is “attacking the very foundation” of what he calls American values.

“At the beginning of this year, our city council had lengthy and productive work sessions where we defined our goals and updated our rules and procedures.

The very first goal we adopted reads “Improve communication and citizen engagement to foster an environment of inclusivity.”

Our rules state “All council members represent and serve the whole city. Councilors should be equally available and responsive to all persons in the city and should assure fair and equal treatment of all persons. Council members must always act in the public interest.

“Both the swastika/ultra pride message and his response illustrate that he does not serve the whole community. His statements were damaging and clearly not in the public interest. The harm done to our community is tangible and frightening, no one should feel that they are under attack in their own community. His words cast shadows far beyond our city limits as this discussion will carry on in social media platforms forever . This will impact our efforts to attract new businesses as well as the tourism that our communities depend upon. It’s not a small thing, it is a significant breach of fitness regarding public service.

I stand beside all of the citizens that have voiced their anguish about a message that is clearly associated with hate and exclusion. I will be standing shoulder to shoulder with them Thursday evening at 5 pm in front of City Hall with pride — and with pride flags that stand for life, healing, sunlight and hope.”

“Since Matt Diaz shared an internet meme in his individual capacity rather than on behalf of council, this is an open and shut case of freedom of speech and is therefore a matter that must be taken to discourse in the marketplace of ideas rather than adjudicated by the powers that be. It does seem odd that several people who insisted a week ago that the city council cannot remove a mayor have suddenly identified that power as valid.”

“My concerns go deeper than the office of mayor, though, into the fabric of our community. To that end, I have been fielding comments from Baker City residents and disregarding disreputable sources such as anonymous message boards. So far I have heard from a handful of Baker City residents as well as several folks from out of town. So far most comments, whether in support and against the mayor, have been split rather predictably along political lines among people I would expect to attack or defend no matter what the issue.

“What I would like to do is extend an open invitation for dialogue with LGBTQ members of our community who have not already reached out to me to do so in order for me to hear from them directly. I don’t have time for opportunistic rage-baiters any more than I do for Hitler apologists, so I would treasure the opportunity to hear directly from all those who are said to be affected most without any interference. So far the feedback in that vein hasn’t exactly been what critics would expect. My council email address is available on the city website. Privacy will be respected.”

“I would say the criticism is appropriate. While I don’t believe Mr. Diaz intended harm or sympathizes with Nazis, posting anything depicting Nazi or supremacist is extremely disappointing and wrong. It shows a lack of historical understanding of cultures and people who were horribly impacted by this ideology.

“I hope Mr. Diaz is open to learning from mistakes and takes criticism seriously. This type of rhetoric does nothing to improve Baker City or its reputation to tourists and potential business owners. We are facing serious issues in the next couple of years this council will need to address. Having to deal with a musical mayor chair and drama among the council doesn’t move us forward.

“Speaking generally, the voters of Baker should be looking at the qualifications of potential candidates for office, rather than political affiliation. Division is getting us nowhere.”