disrespect of the US flag
 

A neighbor is flying their US Flag upside down. Should I be concerned they are in distress and act, speak to them and advise that this is against US flag code in case they are unaware, or just consider they are aware and just disresrectful?

Perhaps they are telling others they feel our country is in distress.

May I say, talk with the neighbor. If he/she/they are OK, just leave it alone!

Bingo

It is unlikely that they are unaware; they are probably trying to make a statement and get attention.

I would shake my head and leave it alone. You're not likely to change their mind but the attempt will give them the attention they are seeking and could lead to (more) bad feelings.

Call the Sheriff and tell them you'd like them to do a welfare check because your neighbor might be in distress. That ought to get the flag straightened out.

If one can legally burn a flag, spit on it and throw it in the mud (itself a violation of the flag laws but ruled constitutional) then one should be able to fly it any way they prefer, esp. on private property. I would not display it this way myself though.

Its to bad, BUT it perfect legal to , wear, burn, step on and to fly the flag upside down. It is protected by the constitution, but in my humble opinion it shows great disrespect for the country, the flag and for the people who fought and died for it.

This thread is already on thin ice due to political comments. Let's keep it on topic, please.

Moderator

Very disrespectful! (and just plain wrong) Report him!
 

Tell him & if that doesn't work then call the police. it is a big deal to fly it upside down. He is disrespecting all veterans in doing so. My father was a decorated Combat Engineer who waded ashore under heavy enemy fire on Omaha Beach in the first wave on D-Day losing many of his friends. Flying the flag upside down is an insult to their memories!

The Flag Code states, "The flag should never be displayed with the union down, except as a signal of dire distress in instances of extreme danger to life or property."

The clear intent is as a call for immediate emergency assistance and not just some antiquated no-longer-used invalid signal!

I agree.
Report that there is a neighbor that is either in danger or distress seeking help!

Flying the American flag upside down is protected speech, judge says

Vito Congine Jr. of Crivitz, Wis., sued that village (population 984) after the police confiscated his upside-down, hanging American flag during a Fourth of July celebration four years ago.

Congine, a former Marine, decided to fly the flag upside down over his planned restaurant as a protest after village officials denied him a liquor license. Crivitz Police Chief Michael Frievalt claimed that members of the local American Legion had complained about the upside-down flag, but he told them that Congine had the right to fly it upside down. On July 4, 2009, Frievalt apparently had a change of heart and removed the flag, claiming he feared it could provoke acts of violence. Police returned the flag unharmed to Congine the next day.

Congine sued, claiming the village and its district attorney—who advised the chief that it was legal to seize the flag—violated his First and Fourth Amendment rights. In May, a federal judge sided with Congine, granting summary judgment claims. The village attorney was given qualified immunity.

“There must be more than the mere potential for a breach of the peace to justify censorship of expressive conduct,” wrote Chief Judge William C. Griesbach for the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin. He reasoned that “even if violence is imminent, temporary interference with the speaker’s exercise of his First Amendment rights is permissible only as a last resort when police are otherwise unable to protect the safety of the public and only insofar as necessary to avoid the serious harm.”

Congine’s attorney, Christopher M. Meuler of Milwaukee, says the decision reaffirmed the principle that the government may not interfere with protected speech even in emergency-type situations, except as a measure of last resort.

A trial on damages is set for October.

If a person feels they are in distress due to higher taxes, higher gas prices, influx of more illegal aliens, loss of jobs in the oil industry then what is to stop them from flying the flag upside down. There is no law against it. The only thing the police might do is check and see it there is a real concern by calling or knocking on the door. Nothing the police can do. There are confederate flags being flown right now in TV and there is nothing anyone can legally do. FL law.

I don't know. Sometimes people signal in subtle ways. Not all people look at things the same;...... Some people are Tennisnuts and some people are golfers.

Some people are from California and some are from Ohio. We all look at things differently. I say...forget about it and just go on with your sheltering in place and waiting for the vaccine like most of the rest of us are doing.

I hung the Browns flag upside down for the last 20 years!! I was distressed.