On April 17, 2015, a protest group, which included Eric Sheppard, walked on the American Flag in the front of Odum Library at Valdosta State University. This was in an effort to protest racism in our country. Shortly after, a local veteran, Michelle Manhart, was detained for taking the flag from the protest group in what was her attempt to be able to dispose of the ripped flag properly. She was not charged but was banned from VSU in the future (ValdostaDailyTimes). I could not believe what I was hearing or seeing on the news so close to home. A Valdosta State student was purposefully walking on the flag. I understand that they tried to show their frustration and protest against something they believe in, but handling it a different way outcomes would have been very different. The American Flag is one of the biggest items used to represent our free country and it was being completely disrespected. The American Flag doesn 't deserve desecration by any person. It doesn’t deserve being laying crumpled on the ground, let alone being walked across. How does a protest group justify walking across the American Flag?
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I cannot fathom what one thinks they would prove by performing such an act. This disturbing and controversial attack on the flag lead to flag-stomping protest across the nation and on public social media. The American Flag stands for freedom and no group of protesters can take that away. To have someone desecrate the American Flag they should punish these people by nothing less than sending them to a country that doesn’t have any of the freedom we do. They might think more of the flag and the freedom it represents when that very freedom is stripped from them and no longer exists. Though any form of desecration to the flag is unlawful in the state of Georgia the penalties are not specified. Protests involving stepping on the flag created disturbances at many colleges across the United States. What started as a small demonstration soon snowballed into national headline news, prompting hundreds of protesters to descend on the Valdosta State University Campus for a rally that shut down the campus. One of the protesters not only stomped on the flag but issued a violent anti-white rant in which he threatened to "annihilate those who came after him". They ask us to sit back and just watch and listen, I say not a chance. This is our flag and just as he can desecrate the flag, we will protect it. In response to the protest, supporters lined the streets and waved flags in support of the flag. …show more content…
While VSU’s outer perimeter was packed full with vehicles and pedestrians, the campus itself resembled a ghost town, apart from the heavy police presence. In preparation for what university officials feared would be heated counter-demonstrations, they decided to shut down the university ahead of the rally. Everyone came out to show their support for not only the flag but to the Air Force staff sergeant who was briefly detained after attempting to steal and save the flag from under the protester 's feet. Cars honked, the crowd chanted, engines roared, and patriotic songs blared from passing vehicles. All in support of our country’s flag, which was held high throughout the entire rally. Kim Thompson, of Pavo, stated "I think it 's going to be amazing. I think it 's actually going to be part of history". (VSUSpectator) How are our fellow armed forces, men, and women, supposed to stand back and watch these acts of ungratefulness toward what they have fought so hard for and defended? All their hard work to make this a free country and those kids were throwing it away. They should have thought of the way we were seeing it. What if we, in turn, stomped on something that you worked so hard for? What if we ripped up your A+ paper? What if we tracked mud on the floor you worked so hard to clean? What if we disrespected something you loved and were proud of, right in front of you? Most Americans will not watch these acts happen without ramifications. The American flag is a symbol of freedom, liberty, and human rights. It is a symbol of our home and all that we believe in.
I cannot fathom what one thinks they would prove by performing such an act. This disturbing and controversial attack on the flag lead to flag-stomping protest across the nation and on public social media. The American Flag stands for freedom and no group of protesters can take that away. To have someone desecrate the American Flag they should punish these people by nothing less than sending them to a country that doesn’t have any of the freedom we do. They might think more of the flag and the freedom it represents when that very freedom is stripped from them and no longer exists. Though any form of desecration to the flag is unlawful in the state of Georgia the penalties are not specified. Protests involving stepping on the flag created disturbances at many colleges across the United States. What started as a small demonstration soon snowballed into national headline news, prompting hundreds of protesters to descend on the Valdosta State University Campus for a rally that shut down the campus. One of the protesters not only stomped on the flag but issued a violent anti-white rant in which he threatened to "annihilate those who came after him". They ask us to sit back and just watch and listen, I say not a chance. This is our flag and just as he can desecrate the flag, we will protect it. In response to the protest, supporters lined the streets and waved flags in support of the flag. …show more content…
While VSU’s outer perimeter was packed full with vehicles and pedestrians, the campus itself resembled a ghost town, apart from the heavy police presence. In preparation for what university officials feared would be heated counter-demonstrations, they decided to shut down the university ahead of the rally. Everyone came out to show their support for not only the flag but to the Air Force staff sergeant who was briefly detained after attempting to steal and save the flag from under the protester 's feet. Cars honked, the crowd chanted, engines roared, and patriotic songs blared from passing vehicles. All in support of our country’s flag, which was held high throughout the entire rally. Kim Thompson, of Pavo, stated "I think it 's going to be amazing. I think it 's actually going to be part of history". (VSUSpectator) How are our fellow armed forces, men, and women, supposed to stand back and watch these acts of ungratefulness toward what they have fought so hard for and defended? All their hard work to make this a free country and those kids were throwing it away. They should have thought of the way we were seeing it. What if we, in turn, stomped on something that you worked so hard for? What if we ripped up your A+ paper? What if we tracked mud on the floor you worked so hard to clean? What if we disrespected something you loved and were proud of, right in front of you? Most Americans will not watch these acts happen without ramifications. The American flag is a symbol of freedom, liberty, and human rights. It is a symbol of our home and all that we believe in.