by Wayne Adair, Hamilton
Recently, a complaint was issued to Ravalli County Commissioners that someone had briefly turned the U.S. flag banners along the bike trail in Florence upside down. Since the Democratic Central Committee has researched the issue and has been flying a flag upside down at the Hamilton farmers market, we would like to set the record straight about the time-honored and legally protected practice of using the U.S. flag as a First Amendment American right of political protest.
Anyone who visits our booth at the weekly farmers market in downtown Hamilton will notice Democrats display two American flags. One we mount on a flagpole attached to a post supporting our canopy, flying higher than the adjacent Montana state flag. The other we display upside down.
The first flag represents patriotism and love of our country. The second flag indicates the distress we believe America is in now.
Both displays are in strict accordance with U.S. flag code.
The inverted flag is addressed under section 8(a) of the flag code which states:
“The flag should never be displayed with the union down, except as a signal of dire distress….”
Every Saturday, a few visitors to our booth question the upside-down flag. Most simply ask why Old Glory is so displayed and seem at least partly satisfied with our explanation. Some are angry, and no reasoning from us can quell that anger.
A couple of folks disagree that our nation is in distress.
Here are examples of why we believe the inverted Stars and Stripes are justified:
In flagrant violation of the Posse Comitatus Act, Donald Trump has ordered U.S. Marines deployed to Los Angeles. Mayor Karen Bass said the largely peaceful protests are confined to a single square mile in her sprawling city, which spans 469 square miles. Federal buildings are located there, the epicenter of raids targeting undocumented immigrants.
The actions of Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers alone are troubling enough to warrant the inverted flag. Due process, a constitutional right of every person living in America, has been ignored repeatedly under Trump dictates. His Department of Justice has claimed they plan to round up and deport criminals and terrorists, yet they are raiding workplaces. ICE officers have arrested day laborers at Home Depot, service workers at restaurants, and migrants harvesting produce on farms.
Repeated refusal to respect duly issued court orders and other rulings from federal courts – including the Supreme Court.
Violation of the Emoluments Clause when Trump boasted that he would accept a $400 million aircraft from the Qatari government to serve as Air Force 1.
When Trump finally admitted that Mexico was never going to pay for the border wall, he unconstitutionally diverted military funds to fund construction after Congress refused to do so.
While not unconstitutional, Trump’s blanket pardons of hundreds of criminals convicted of violent acts on Jan. 6, 2021, are deeply troubling.
The list is too long to fully address here.
We Democrats realize that other folks may disagree with our position, but consider this:
How bad would the lawlessness of the Trump administration have to be before you would turn your American flag upside down?
Bill Cavanaugh says
Wayne’s TDS shines here. “Sorry Howard I thought I was replying to a Trumper” What he really meant was a common sense American, as opposed to some brainwashed propagandists……Like Wayne. Where exactly did all of this due process through the courts occur during Obama and Clinton Deportations? Do you actually think, they just drove illegals to a travel agent after visiting a Judge? maybe you forgot about that famous picture of the kid in Miami with Automatic rifles pointed at him by federal agents under the Clinton administration? You live in clown world Wayne.
Gomez says
Under Clinton and Obama they all got their day in court. Every single one of them. If you know otherwise, cite the specific names and cases. Thanks in advance.
Mike Miller says
Gomez, according to multiple sources, including these two, you’re wrong.
https://www.voicesheardfoundation.org/post/deportations-and-due-process-comparing-obama-and-trump-policies
https://www.aclu.org/news/immigrants-rights/speed-over-fairness-deportation-under-obama
You’re welcome.
Bill Cavanaugh says
Blatant lie right there.
Bill Cavanaugh says
Blatant Lie, referring to Gomez by the way, but then again we all knew that
Bill Cavanaugh says
Karen Bass said she’d speed up permit processing after the fires, they’ve issued 5 (She Lied)
Obama deported ove 3 Million illegals, I didn’t see your flag upside down then.
Biden laughed about and openly defied the Supreme Court on student loan forgiveness.
Your petty whiny actions are both unpatriotic and pathetic. And by the way Mike Mercer hit it out of the park… Great take.
WMA says
Bill,
The problem is not deportation; the problem is doing so without due process as guaranteed by our Constitution.
And please answer the question posed in the final paragraph of my letter.
Mike Miller says
Under Obama, 5.24 million were deported. Under Clinton, abut 12.3 million.
Tell us, WMA, where was your voice for the due process for those deported then?
I think it’s nothing more than your biased hatred for Trump. After all, you that’s what you say.
Howard S. says
They got due process, that’s the point. What makes you think they didn’t?
WMA says
Because they didn’t. Mystery agents, supposedly ICE, grabbed working people on farms and in restaurants, and spirited them off to detention centers. No immigration courts involved.
WMA says
Sorry Howard. Thought I was reacting to a Trumper.
Mike Miller says
No, they didn’t.
Mike Mercer says
Flying the flag upside down at the local farmers market, you little rebel you. What’s next, wearing white before Easter?
Gomez says
Do you have a problem with peaceful protest?