Richmond, VA Officials Order Removal of American Flag Display ‘Concerned That It Could Become a Target’

A subcontractor in Richmond, Virginia was shocked when city officials ordered him to remove an American flag display created from tarps, citing a concern “that it could become a target” for protests.

“Since when is this flag, on this weekend, IN THIS COUNTRY, a Target!!” Eric Winston of American Coatings Corp. said in a Facebook post. “Let me guess, if I had a black lives matter flag it would be ‘ok’!?”

Dena Potter, spokeswoman for the Department of General Services, said in an email Friday, “Over the past month we’ve seen buildings and structures around Capitol Square vandalized and flags, dumpsters, a bus and other items set ablaze during demonstrations around the city.”

“When we saw the flag, we were concerned that it could become a target, so we told the contractor to remove it,” she said.

This week, the city removed the Stonewall Jackson statue from Monument Avenue.

From the Hill:

Winston added that the flag was put up with the permission of the project’s general contractor, Gilbane Building Company. Gilbane complied with the order, and the flag was removed.

Winston disputed the request, arguing that “The American Flag is a symbol of Freedom,” he wrote.

“I’m all for the freedoms and liberty’s we have in this country, Protest, sure. Take a knee during the national anthem, whatever floats your boat. Marry who you want, absolutely! That’s what this flag represents! It’s bull [expletive] that you made us take it down.”