Mayor In Heavily Latino Pennsylvania Town Rejects Request To Fly Dominican Flag At City Hall

SAN JUAN, PUERTO RICO - MARCH 13: A fan flies the Dominican Republic flag during the game against Cuba during Round 2 of the World Baseball Classic on March 13, 2006 at Hiram Bithorn Stadium in San Juan, Puerto Rico. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images) (2006 Getty Images)

The mayor of a heavily Latino town in eastern Pennsylvania says he won't fly the Dominican Republic's flag at city hall to commemorate that country's founding.

Hazleton Mayor Joseph Yannuzzi cited a 1895 state law in rejecting the request from the nonprofit Dominican House.

The Standard-Speaker reported that a foreign flag may fly only if a minister or consul of that country is present.

But Dominican House President Victor Perez notes the Irish flag flew at city hall in 2012 to mark St. Patrick's Day.

Perez says it sounds like officials are discriminating against Dominicans. The organization wants to celebrate Dominican independence on Feb. 27.

Hazleton made national headlines in 2006 for passing ordinances that cracked down on immigrants who entered the country illegally. Courts have since struck down the laws.