Summary
Michael Snow Jr., 24, has been charged with destruction of federal property for burning an American flag during protests against Israeli PM Netanyahu’s July speech to Congress.
Demonstrators, opposing Netanyahu’s stance on the Gaza war, removed flags at Union Station, spray-painted a Columbus monument, and raised Palestinian flags.
Federal authorities claim Snow used lighter fluid to ignite the flag. Cleanup and repairs cost over $11,000.
The protest permit was revoked due to lack of organizer communication.
Charged because he stole the flag he burned. Burning a flag itself is not a crime.
Charged because he destroyed federal property.
Right. That’s my point. It wasn’t his flag to burn. That’s why it was a crime. Destroying a flag that belongs to you isn’t against the law.
To be extra clear, burning an American flag that you purchase or otherwise own is legal, first-amendment-protected free speech. Burning someone else’s American flag is not. This person allegedly took down federally-owned flags and burned them, hence destruction of federal property.
And worse, the only reason to not make that clear in the headline is for clicks.
That’s better. The idea that burning a piece of cloth should be a criminal offence is an absolute madness.
The criminal offense here is still burning a piece of cloth.
A piece of cloth that you don’t own.
Talk about burying the lede!
