A city in New York appears to be celebrating America’s 250th birthday differently.
Buffalo Mayor Sean Ryan confirmed Tuesday that the city cancelled its Independence Day firework show, WGRZ reported Wednesday. However, some other city officials found time to celebrate Somali Independence Day, social media posts show.
Ryan’s office did not immediately respond to the Daily Caller News Foundation’s request for comment.
“The Somali flag was raised in front of Buffalo City Hall in New York State on 1 July 2026, as the local Somali community gathered to mark Somalia’s Independence Day in a ceremony promoted by a Buffalo city council member,” Somali National News Agency posted Wednesday.
The Somali flag was raised in front of Buffalo City Hall in New York State on 1 July 2026, as the local Somali community gathered to mark Somalia’s Independence Day in a ceremony promoted by a Buffalo city council member.
From Mogadishu to Buffalo, the flag rose on the same day.… pic.twitter.com/PW24BkxfRG— SONNA (@SONNALIVE) July 1, 2026
Somali Independence Day is celebrated on July 1 to commemorate when the Trust Territory of Somalia broke away from Italy and united with the State of Somaliland in 1960, forming the Federal Republic of Somalia.
“The fireworks vendor started raising real questions about, you know, when you put these fireworks up, canisters drop down,” Ryan told WGRZ. He also said Buffalo hasn’t hosted a 4th of July firework show in a “generation,” but he plans to try again next year.
The city planned for the firework show to be held at City Hall and Niagara Square, according to WGRZ. Residents reportedly pointed out that the city sponsored firework shows at Niagara Square in the past.
An “Official City of Buffalo Fireworks display” was scheduled for Independence Day as recently as 2019 at the waterfront, according to an Empire State Development press release.
“Last I checked, THIS IS AMERICA, not Somalia,” Republican Rep. Claudia Tenney, who represents New York’s 24th congressional district near Buffalo, posted Thursday. “There is no excuse for canceling a downtown Fourth of July celebration during America’s 250th anniversary while raising the flag of another nation at City Hall … Not our flag. Not our values. NOT our country.”
Ryan’s office reportedly said the Somali flag was removed by unknown vandals overnight, damaging the city hall’s flagpole.
