View Full Version : flag-destruction sentencing
This guy was sentenced for criminal damage to property. He removed a Mexican National Flag that had been flown solo from a campus flag pole. He said he'd notified UNM campus officials, and nothing was done. So he removed the flag and later tore it in two.
http://www.krqe.com/Global/story.asp?S=8103472
True he destroyed a flag that wasn't his. But anger management? Burning the U.S. flag or an effigy ever fill an anger management class? It'd be great to see some protesters doing community service for some of the havoc they cause.
82ndtrooper
04-08-2008, 07:08
I guess the 1st Amendment only applies to the American flag, just not a Mexican flag. "Be my guest, desicrate the American flag under the guise of freedom of speach, but don't touch another third world, over populated, undereducated, rotten countries flag" :rolleyes::munchin
monsterhunter
04-08-2008, 07:30
"I respectfully submit to you if the constitution on the First Amendment permits burning an American flag belonging to another, Peter Lynch's actions protecting the symbol of the United States is protected activity," defense attorney John D'Amato said in his closing argument.
This sums it up for me. If I ever run across Peter Lynch, I'll be buying the Guinness.
rubberneck
04-08-2008, 07:44
He destroyed something that wasn't his. If he had taken the flag down and put it on the ground and walked all over it he wouldn't be in trouble for it. I have, over the years, read dozens of cases where people were prosecuted for destroying someone else's American flag while nothing ever happens to those that burn their own. The guy is an idiot for destroying the flag and now he seeks the last refuge of the scoundrel as his defense.
To be very clear. I hate illegal immigration. I hate the La Razza crowd, but destroying the Mexican flag is not act patriotism IMHO but just an act thuggery dressed in patriots robes.
He destroyed something that wasn't his.
This is the key to understanding this. It has nothing to do with free speech.
Yes he tore the flag, I made a point of stating exactly what he was charged with.
Before doing so he also notified the UNM Deans office, and the Army ROTC, who was responsible for flag duty that day. The flag had been flying for several days. The day Lynch chose to take the Mexican flag down it was flying solo and happened to be U.S. Constitution Day, and a day or two after Mexican Independence Day.
As part of the UNM community, the ROTC departments share responsibility for raising and lowering flags at Scholes Hall. This month, it is the Army ROTC department's turn in the rotation. On Friday morning, Army ROTC students raised the U.S. flag and the New Mexico state flag. The third flagpole, which usually carries the University flag, was left empty and unlocked. This was planned to allow students from the Mexican Student Association to raise the Mexican flag later in the day. At the end of the day, the Army ROTC students returned to lower the flags. Due to a misunderstanding, the students did not lower the Mexican flag or lock the flagpole. They believed that the Mexican Student Association students would return to retrieve the flag that they had raised earlier in the day.
As a result, the Mexican flag remained flying at Scholes Hall. On Monday morning, the Army ROTC students were again scheduled to raise the flags at Scholes Hall. As occasionally occurs with any organization, a communication error occurred, and Army ROTC students failed to raise the flags. This mistake resulted in only the Mexican flag flying over Scholes Hall.,, -
Lt. Col. Erik Sevigny Army ROTC
Lynch said he tried giving El Centro de La Raza a replacement Mexican flag in September, but it refused to accept one.
"I tried to make restitution," he said. "I tried to be the best man I had to be. I didn't intend any harm on any person, and I didn't intend for this to get so out of control. I just didn't want my nation to be insulted."
Sepulveda (El Centro de la Raza employee) said she didn't know if El Centro de La Raza would accept a flag from Lynch even if the court had ordered it.
"That would have to be the decision of our director and the other employees," she said. - Daily Lobo UNM
Well the court has ordered it.
If Lynch meets the terms of probation, the offense will be erased from his record.
However the UNC admin seems to be tripping all over itself to appease El Centro de la Raza.
Well two points here, El Centro de la Raza raised the Mexican flag, then neglected to lower it at night or the next day even though the Mexican Independance day was over. Second El Centro de la Raza refused restitution when offered.
The Reaper
04-09-2008, 08:32
Why are we allowing a student group to fly a foreign flag over a US taxpayer funded institution?
La Raza is a racist, supremacist, nationalist, socialist organization. The National Council of La Raza is a key player in the "Reconquista" movement. Its motto: "For the Race, everything. For those outside the Race, nothing."
Would we let a Nazi group fly their flag alongside the US flag on days of their choosing?
TR
I guess the 1st Amendment only applies to the American flag, just not a Mexican flag. "Be my guest, desicrate the American flag under the guise of freedom of speach, but don't touch another third world, over populated, undereducated, rotten countries flag" :rolleyes::munchin
Just curious to know, why do you describe Mexico as a rotten country?
Why are we allowing a student group to fly a foreign flag over a US taxpayer funded institution?
Would we let a Nazi group fly their flag alongside the US flag on days of their choosing?
TR
TR Sir,
Was wondering the same thing? :munchin
Holly
I found this at the American Legion site. From what I have read, this law is applicable to public institutions. As for private businesses and homes, it is not, but I could be wrong?
http://www.legion.org/national/americanflag/flagcode
The Flag Code
§ 5. Display and use of flag by civilians; codification of rules and customs; definition
The following codification of existing rules and customs pertaining to the display and use of the flag of the United States of America is established for the use of such civilians or civilian groups or organizations as may not be required to conform with regulations promulgated by one or more executive departments of the Government of the United States. The flag of the United States for the purposes of this chapter shall be defined according to sections 1 and 2 of Title 4 and Executive Order 10834 issued pursuant thereto.
§ 6. Time and occasions for display
(a) It is the universal custom to display the flag only from sunrise to sunset on buildings and on stationary flag staffs in the open. However, when a patriotic effect is desired, the flag may be displayed twenty-four hours a day if properly illuminated during the hours of darkness.
(b) The flag should be hoisted briskly and lowered ceremoniously.
(c) The flag should not be displayed on days when the weather is inclement, except when an all weather flag is displayed.
(d) The flag should be displayed on all days, especially on...
(e) The flag should be displayed daily on or near the main administration building of every public institution.
(f) The flag should be displayed in or near every polling place on election days.
(g) The flag should be displayed during school days in or near every schoolhouse.
§ 7. Position and manner of display
(c) No other flag or pennant should be placed above or, if on the same level, to the right of the flag of the United States of America, except during church services conducted by naval chaplains at sea, when the church pennant may be flown above the flag during church services for the personnel of the Navy.
No person shall display the flag of the United Nations or any other national or international flag equal, above, or in a position of superior prominence or honor to, or in place of, the flag of the United States at any place within the United States or any Territory or possession thereof:
Provided, That nothing in this section shall make unlawful the continuance of the practice heretofore followed of displaying the flag of the United Nations in a position of superior prominence or honor, and other national flags in positions of equal prominence or honor, with that of the flag of the United States at the headquarters of the United Nations.
(d) The flag of the United States of America, when it is displayed with another flag against a wall from crossed staffs, should be on the right, the flag's own right, and its staff should be in front of the staff of the other flag.
Echoes, there are no penalties for violation of the Flag Code. Those individuals who choose to honor our flag and our country do so for other reasons. For those individuals who do not, the Code has no teeth.