(Crankers) A 54-year-old man in North Carolina lit an American Flag on fire to protest President Donald Trump’s executive order attempting to criminalize flag burning. The man, named Jay Carey, lit the flag on fire in the Lafayette Park directly across from the White House. He was just a few feet from children when he set the fire.
He reportedly said into a microphone: “My name is Jay Carey and I’m a retired, disabled combat veteran. I served over 20 years in the United States Army. I fought for every single one of your rights so you can express yourself however you want to express yourself.” Carey said it was his First Amendment right to light the American Flag on fire.
Technically speaking, the First Amendment allows burning of flags under a 1989 Supreme Court ruling, as stated on News & Observer.
The report further quoted Carey as saying: “No president can make a law, period… No Congress can make a law infringing on First Amendment rights. I’m burning this flag as a protest to that illegal fascist president that sits in that house.”
As he stood there with the burning flag, the Secret Service made their way over and escorted him into custody. Carey spent a few hours detained and was released.
He was charged with setting a fire in a park.
Carey was a candidate to represent North Carolina in 2022, but failed to make it beyond the Democratic primary. The seat was eventually won by Republican Chuck Edwards.