NEW HAVEN, Conn. -- The decision of the Mayor’s Office to put a Mexican flag on its space downtown has caused protesters to storm the area and set off a flurry of racist remarks.

Dozens of letters and e-mails recently bombarded the office after the Mexican flag was put up last week for a pair of observances, officials said.

People of all races were protesting in the area Thursday, stating that flying the flag of a foreign country won’t be tolerated.

"It outrages not just the city of New Haven but people that live in this community, because New Haven has historically been a city that has been welcoming to immigrants,” said Kica Matos, New Haven’s community services administrator.

The city waves the Italian, Irish, Lithuanian, Polish, Puerto Rican and other flags on the green at the request of community groups in relation to patriotic holidays and events, she said.