THE PEOPLE’S FLAG OF CLEVELAND
a symbol of
civic pride
THE PEOPLE’S FLAG OF CLEVELAND IS HERE.
After months of community engagement, hundreds of design submissions, and thousands of votes, the moment has arrived—Cleveland’s new symbol is here: The People’s Flag of Cleveland!
This flag represents pride, unity, and our shared identity, bringing Clevelanders of all backgrounds together under a unifying symbol of our community. It honors our rich history, reflects our resilience, and looks ahead to a bright future.
We want to extend our sincere appreciation to all of the community members, volunteers, organizations, and local businesses who have helped champion this cause and bring us to this historic moment!
Congratulations to the designer of the Cleveland People’s Flag, Shan Rodich!
GET YOUR FLAG
3' x 5' The People's Flag of Cleveland, OH flag with grommets and double stitched edges to reduce fraying.
In Collaboration with Flags for Good—A portion of the proceeds is donated to the Cleveland Food Bank
The People's Flag of Cleveland is rich in symbolism that reflects the city's history and spirit. The six-pointed star honors Cleveland’s historical nickname, "The Sixth City," and nods to the current city flag’s six symbols representative of Cleveland’s industrial and nautical history. The prominent "C" stands for Cleveland, while the swallowtail-shaped red section honors Ohio’s state flag shape and opens up to the right, signaling the forward progress of our city. The blue field to the right symbolizes Lake Erie, while the blue within the “C” represents the Cuyahoga River, named “Crooked River” by the Native American tribes of our region. The red stripe between the "C" and the blue field signifies Cleveland’s Rust Belt heritage. The overall red, white, and blue color scheme pays homage to the original Cleveland flag, as well as the Ohio and U.S. flags.
Collaboration with Flags for Good
🏴 3' x 5' The People's Pride Flag of Cleveland Ohio flag with grommets and double stitched edges to reduce fraying.
A bold symbol of unity, pride, and progress.
This design fuses the powerful symbolism of the People’s Flag of Cleveland with the inclusive colors of the LGBTQ+ Pride flag, celebrating the vibrant diversity that defines our city.
Blending local pride with inclusive values, this flag stands for every Clevelander — past, present, and future — and our shared vision of a more vibrant, welcoming city for all.
Gray and white trucker cap with embroidered People’s Flag of Cleveland.
Hat designed by Clevelander Anthony Quagliata at AQA Marketing
Proceeds from this cap go towards The Greater Cleveland Food Bank
Printed locally by Cleveland Print Co. on a soft, vintage white Bella Canvas shirt made from 100% cotton. This high-quality tee is available in unisex sizes S–3XL and proudly displays the People's Flag design. Partial proceeds from this tee gives back to the Greater Cleveland Food Bank.
Models are wearing a size S and a size XL.
Wash in cold to preserve vibrant colors
WELcOME THE PEOPLE’S PRIDE FLAG OF CLEVELAND
Celebrate unity, diversity, and local pride with the People’s Pride Flag of Cleveland — a vibrant expression of support among our Cleveland friends and neighbors.
An adaptation of the Progress Pride Flag, created by the visionary Daniel Quasar, this unique design fuses the People’s Flag of Cleveland with the inclusive colors of the LGBTQ+ Pride flag. The result? A powerful emblem of progress and solidarity that reflects the vibrant spirit of Cleveland and honors every member of our community.
Supporting a Cause That Matters - A portion of proceeds from this flag and related merchandise will be donated to the LGBT Community Center of Greater Cleveland, helping to uplift and support our LGBTQ+ neighbors.
Shop the Flag & Apparel – Get your own People’s Pride Flag and exclusive flag apparel from our partners at Field Trip Merch and Flags for Good.
Learn about the history of Progress Flag – Explore the symbolism here.
THE MEANING BEHIND THE DESIGN
The flag’s elements are packed with symbols, used as subtle nods to Ohio and Cleveland history.
We are an organization of passionate Clevelanders whose mission is to research, commission, and introduce a new city flag that embodies Cleveland’s spirit of progress and prosperity while representing the diversity and inclusivity of our vibrant community. Through this symbol, we aim to inspire pride and unity, fostering a shared sense of belonging and representation for all community members as we embark on the next phase of our city's growth and development.
OUR MISSION
OUR PAST ENRICHES
OUR FUTURE VISION.
1895
The official municipal symbols for Cleveland were adopted—the city’s flag, motto, and ceremonial seal. The city’s flag came to be when New York journalist, Julian Ralph, proposed the idea to William Stokely, a reporter with The Plain Dealer. After visiting Cleveland, Ralph was impressed with the city’s civic spirit and was surprised a city flag did not already exist.
To engage Cleveland citizens in the selection of the flag, Ralph, Stokely and city leaders held a municipal flag design contest through The Plain Dealer. In October of 1895, following two dozen submissions, 18-year-old Susan Hepburn was named the prize-winning designer.
FOLLOW US!
500+ Submissions,
one goal
While a new People’s Flag has already been chosen, let’s not forget the hundreds of submissions we received from people all over Northeast Ohio — and even overseas!