Stomp On The American Flag? Not In Tennessee.
Categories: News
Stomp On The American Flag? Not In Tennessee.
Emily Arianna Warren was arrested Thursday night for trespassing and desecrating the Tennessee State Flag and the American Flag at Red Clay State Park. She was charged with desecration of a flag (two counts), vandalism, and criminal trespassing.
Patrol deputies were contacted about a woman burning a flag at the Red Clay State Park. Upon arrival, witnesses told deputies they observed her removing United States and Tennessee flags, put them on the ground, and start stomping on them. When officers made contact, she said this was not the first time she had removed flags at the park, and also admitted she swam in the blue hole located inside the park, that clearly has signage that says “No Trespassing”.
Read more from The Chattanoogan
This has been a hot topic as of late, some people believing that it’s totally OK and protected under the First Amendment, and the other side that believes it’s extremely disrespectful. We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again, the Flag does not represent the government or the things that didn’t go your way, it represents America and all the good that we stand for. Men and women have died to protect it and the Freedom it represents
Let us know what you think about this in the comment section or on social media.
well im proud of the parks ass for doing what they did. i wish people would understand that there is a law about discracing the flag. its time in jail and a fine. this law is not enforced is the issue
“…the Flag. …it represents America and all the good that we stand for.”
Red Clay is the start of The Trail of tears, where we immigrants forced thousands of Native Americans to leave their homelands and move west. Many marched to their death.
But alas, the flag represents only the good that we stand for. Whew, conscious cleared. Thanks for that.
the only way she got charged with “desecration of the flag” had to have been what they used as a label instead of theft and destruction of federal property. It is 1st amendment rights so if it would have been a flag that she had bought and done that to on her own or public property then she would have been fine. Right?
I had a lady desecrate an American Flag once in a 100 level Art class in college in Kentucky and The professor (an ex-marine at that) let it go on. I sat there and watched for a few seconds as she burned the flag with cigarettes and couldn’t stop myself from visibly crying. As a military brat it hurts to see what your father, grandfather, friends, and other family fought hard to protect be so easily mistreated.
I told the woman after the cops arrived and like the entire ROTC at WKU responded to what she was doing, that she’s more than welcome to go to North Korea for all I care if she wants to treat our flag with such disrespect and hate our country in such a way.
Whether you regard burning the flag as a protected protest or not, stealing SOMEONE ELSE’S flag and burning it is theft and vandalism.
As a veteran I find it extremely offensive to stomp on and desecrate the flag. Anyone who does so SHOULD be arrested.
“She was charged with desecration of a flag (two counts), vandalism, and criminal trespassing.”
She definitely should have been arrested, and all the charges are fine except for the two desecration of a flag charges. The SC has ruled time and again the burning or destroying flags is protected under the First Amendment. However, burning or destroying *somebody else’s* flag, in this case the city’s flag since it was in a park, is illegal, as is being on property when one is not allowed to. So, the vandalism and trespassing charges will stick; the desecration charges will be thrown out. If she wants to desecrate flags, she may buy all the flags she wants at her own expense and then desecrate them to her heart’s content. She may not take and then desecrate other people’s flags.
Good job Tennessee law enforcement. I think it is about time something is being done about people desecrating our flag. Seems everyone has rights except for Patriots of this great country we live in. Although I did not see combat I am a veteran and offered up my life for my country and would do it again . As bad a shape as she is in this is still the greatest country in the world by far.
Purely disrespectful and childish. It’s like breaking something belonging to your parents because you were punished. Not to mention that it IS illegal to desecrate the American flag. Immaturity at its best.
This woman should be prosecuted for trespassing and destruction of property not her own. It is not against the law to deface the American flag if the person owns the flag. The Supreme Court has ruled that this is protected under the first amendment to the Constitution. It should be noted that no matter what this woman does to the flag, she cannot destroy what it stands for. That lives in the hearts and minds of all who love this country.
I am a retired Navy Chief Petty Officer. I took an oath to support and defend the constitution. There is no expiration date to that oath. However disgusting this behavior is, we should not make laws against something just because it is offensive to us.
They should go to jail. It is disgraceful to destroy our flag. People have given their life for us to live in this great country and that is the symbol of our country.
The men and women who all fought and those who lost their lives and those who never returned whole to protect this great flag is who they are disrespecting. If you dont like these freedoms go somewhere else. You have the right to your opinion and if you don’t like the laws, tradition, and ertitage of our great country there are many countries that will take you and if not deal with it. This should be a federal crime, people get pissed when you burn their holy religous book but an American flag means nothing? It is not ok!!
While I certainly understand and respect ones right to exercise the First Amendment, I served my country with honor and pride and cannot nor will not allow someone to desecrate our flag in front of me.
Many brave men and women have spilled their blood or paid the ultimate sacrifice to maintain the freedoms in which we as Americans are privileged to enjoy…the freedoms some take for granted.
Our flag is draped over their caskets because they died serving and protecting the very virtue of what our flag represents. We don’t have to like our elected officials or at times how our government operates but that is a whole separate issue from what our flag symbolizes.
Desecrating the flag in protest is a slap in the face to any one that took the oath, donned a uniform, picked up a weapon and performed the job they were asked to do without wavering or asking for an ounce of gratitude and we did so because we are Americans…we are patriots that love our country and are willing to die to defend what our flag represents.
We respect our flag and what it means…especially in the presence of a soldier or veteran. Because if you don’t you might find yourself involved in an incident that would require us to take action that we will simply chalk up to blaming it on PTSD.
Response to comment by Paul. No one said America is perfect. We have made mistakes and will probably make more, but America has done much good to make the world a better place. The blood of many of our troops has been shed on behalf of other countries and people so that they could be free like us. As a USAF Veteran who proudly served this great nation, do me a favor and try thinking about the good America has done and not the mistakes she has made. We all should be on our knees every day of our lives thanking God that we live in America. One last thing, if anyone chooses to disrespect or burn or destroy an American flag in my presence, make sure that your hospital insurance is paid up because you will need it. And that is not a threat but is a promise.