March 02, 2004

By: Zi Perry
Website: http://www.1st-in-flags.com

Alamosa business owner may resume displaying American flag upside down

The American Civil Liberties Union Foundation of Colorado (ACLU) announced today that as a result of an agreement with Alamosa city officials, an Alamosa business owner may resume displaying an American flag upside-down in his store window to express his views on the war in Iraq.

John Fleming, owner of The Roost, a store which sells books and music on State Street in Alamosa, prompted controversy last month when he displayed the American flag upside down in his store window. According to Fleming, the Boy Scout Manual says that an upside-down flag communicates distress. Fleming believes that the war in Iraq is a sign that our country is in distress.

Mr. Fleming's flag display is peaceful symbolic expression that is fully protected by the First Amendment, said Mark Silverstein, ACLU Legal Director. Shortly after Fleming set up his flag display, however, he received a visit from Alamosa's Chief of Police, who told Fleming that the display violated a Colorado statute. He threatened to charge Fleming with a crime unless he took down the display.

Also see: south american flags

Author Notes:

Zi Perry contributes and publishes news editorial to http://www.1st-in-flags.com.  The flags of the world are symbols of recognition full of beauty and color for each country.