A pro-life flag flying at Prince Albert’s city hall is sparking protests and calls for city officials to apologize.

The flag, which depicts a cartoon fetus and includes the slogan, “Please let me live,” is flying as part of Celebrate Life Week and was approved by the city.

“This is problematic because this is officially endorsing the so-called pro-life position, which here in Saskatchewan, across Canada and around the world, is actively working to reduce the rights of pregnant people to access medically necessary procedures and to make choices about their own bodily autonomy,” protester Lana Wilson said.

She was one of a handful of people holding posters outside city hall Tuesday, calling for the city to take down the flag. She’s encouraging residents to write letters to their city councillors and to phone the mayor’s office to request the flag be removed.

She also wants to see Prince Albert city council apologize for raising the flag.

“There is a time and place for groups to express their opinions, but to have a civic body such as the city council of Prince Albert raise an anti-abortion flag on the official flag poles in front of city hall represents an endorsement of the worldwide so-called" pro-life movement, Wilson said.

The city has been raising the flag for years as part of Celebrate Life Week.

Officials say groups that promote views or ideas supporting violence or discrimination will not be approved by the city to raise flags on the courtesy pole. Any religious, political or commercial request requires the approval of city council.

“We are a diverse community, and everyone should have the right to their opinion. Whether I agree with it or not, that’s not my job to judge,” Mayor Greg Dionne said. “We have a flag pole there that people have the right, during their celebration week, to fly their flag.”

Celebrate Life event organizers see no issues with flying the flag at city hall.

“City hall is indicative of what the citizens are, and the citizens have requested that this week be proclaimed and the flag be raised,” said Dorothy Kawul, a member of the Prince Albert Right to Life Association.

“This week is meant to be a week of awareness, of prayer, of education and of lobbying for support for, say, women who are facing a crisis pregnancy or who have had an abortion, or maybe adoptive parents.”

Abortion services are not provided at any Prince Albert Parkland Health Region site. Women seeking those services are referred to other health regions.

Wilson is organizing a larger protest to take place Thursday outside city hall.

--- based on a report by CTV Prince Albert's Sarah Komadina