Illinois Lawmaker Seeks to Criminalize Flying the American Flag Upside Down – Elections, Politics

(The Center Square) – A veteran Illinois lawmaker is opposing recently introduced legislation that would make it a crime for public officials to knowingly fly an upside-down flag on government property.

State Rep. Harry Benton has introduced legislation that would ban politically motivated efforts that disrespect the flag.

“The flag of the United States is an enduring symbol of our national spirit and pride, and of the sacrifices each generation of Americans has made,” Benton said.

Benton is responding to a local incident in which a Will County official flew the American flag upside down after Donald Trump was convicted of 34 crimes.

Steve Balich, supervisor of Homer Township in Will County, reportedly ordered the national flag to be flown upside down outside Homer Township offices following the conviction of former President Donald Trump.

Center Square attempted to reach Balich for comment, but he did not immediately respond.

“The official who made this sad choice – disrespecting our country’s flag and all it stands for – may be disappointed with the outcome of a particular criminal trial, but that is no excuse,” Benton said. “That he then tried to deflect the mounting outrage by dressing himself in the same flag he had just spat on makes his actions all the more pathetic.”

State Rep. David Friess, an Air Force veteran, said he believes that if someone feels like the country is in a time of need, he or she should be able to fly the flag upside down.

“Even as a veteran, I don’t lose my cool… I understand that one of the greatest freedoms we have is freedom of speech and I may not agree with an individual if he or she flies the flag upside down, but I absolutely respect your It is good to do that,” said Friess.

Benton’s House Bill 5860 would make it a crime for a government official to knowingly fly the national flag upside down on government property.

Friess said he doesn’t think the bill will go anywhere, but he hopes Benton will pair the legislation with a measure banning flag burning at Black Lives Matter or Pro-Palestine protests.

“I would like to see him pass a bill that you can’t burn a flag at a Pro-Hamas rally, a Pro-Palestinian rally or a BLM rally,” Firess said.

Benton said in a press release: “Despite our differences, we are all Americans.”

Benton also introduced House Bill 5861, which would go beyond making it a crime to fly an upside-down flag, but would also make it punishable by a fine of up to $25,000.

Benton said in a news release that both of his bills, House Bill 5860 and House Bill 5861, clarify that the flag should only be flown upside down in situations involving great distress or extreme danger to life or property. display is required by the U.S. Flag Code.

Friess said much of the country believes America is in dire straits, as Trump was convicted while running for president.

“You prosecuted a former president. And I am convinced that the only reason he was prosecuted is because he is running for president again. “If he hadn’t thrown his hat in the ring before 2024… there’s no doubt they wouldn’t have prosecuted him,” Friess said.

Benton said elected leaders take an oath to the American flag and the nation it represents, not to a political leader.

Friess said that when he saw that House Bill 5861 punished flying the flag upside down with a fine of up to $25,000, he laughed out loud.

“This comes at a time when the Democratic party is pushing hard to decriminalize any behavior. Every time there is a penalty enhancement, their hair catches fire. So you’re going to fine someone $25,000 for an expression of what I think would be covered by the First Amendment,” Friess said.

Both bills could be advanced during the fall veto session in November.