WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — A Wichita park official has taken down a Confederate battle flag from a park.

Wichita Mayor Jeff Longwell said Thursday the flag will stay down , at least temporarily.

The Wichita Eagle reports  city officials are expected to meet with veterans groups Monday to discuss the flag’s future at the John S. Stevens Pavilion at Veterans Memorial Park, where the flag has flown with several other flags since 1976. A plaque at the site says the 13 historic flags were chosen to commemorate “the diversity of purposes and peoples who have contributed to this Country’s enrichment.”

Longwell says the city council has received several emails and calls since the issue surfaced after the recent shootings in South Carolina. The shooting suspect has been seen in photographs with the flag.

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WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — The son of the man whose name adorns the veterans flag pavilion in downtown Wichita has asked City Council members to take down the Confederate flag that flies at the plaza.

The Wichita Eagle reports John Stevens asked council members last week to remove the Confederate flag from the John S. Stevens Pavilion at Veterans Memorial Plaza. The flag has been displayed at the pavilion named after the former mayor since 1976.

A national debate about the Confederate flag has been renewed after the shooting of nine black churchgoers in Charleston, South Carolina. The shooting suspect has been seen in photographs with the flag.

Wichita City Council member Janet Miller said Tuesday that the council is asking the memorial group that raises money to help maintain the veterans me