(WBBM NEWSRADIO) — After a suburban official flew an American flag upside down outside a government office, an Illinois state representative has proposed making that a crime.
Republican Homer Township Supervisor Steve Balich flew the American flag upside down outside the township office when Donald Trump was found guilty of 34 felonies recently.
Now, Democratic State Rep. Harry Benton of Plainfield wants to make it a felony punishable by a fine for any government official to display the American flag upside down outside a government building.
“It has been extremely disappointing how many Republicans have attacked me since I filed this bill. And this bill does not state Republican only. This is against Democrats or Republicans. I don’t want to see anybody desecrate our flag on government property,” Benton said.
Benton said it’s so disheartening to see one party flip-flop and be so unpatriotic when it comes to the American flag.
He said he’s received hate calls to his state rep offices in Springfield and in the southwest suburbs, as well as negative comments on social media.
Benton’s proposals would make the flying of an American flag upside down outside a government office in Illinois a class four felony punishable by a $25,000 fine.
“We need to be holding our elected officials at a higher standard, and not utilizing government property to make political statements,” he said.
Rep. Benton says he’s not for desecrating the flag anytime but he acknowledges people have a constitutional right to do with the flag what they will on private property.
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