St. Sabina flies upside-down American flag to protest Trump administration — 'America is in distress'

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The St. Sabina Church community raised an upside-down American flag Monday morning to protest recent policy decisions from the Trump administration.

“What we are seeing in America is not and cannot be accepted or normalized,” the Rev. Michael Pfleger, St. Sabina’s senior pastor, told the dozens who gathered outside the Auburn Gresham church.

Among his grievances: laying off thousands of federal workers; demonizing and deporting immigrants; pardoning Jan. 6 rioters; threatening cuts to Medicaid and Medicare; shutting down the Department of Education; and ending diversity, equity and inclusion programs.

“These are only the beginning of a long list of why America is in distress,” he said. “This is not normal. This is not acceptable. And we will rise up, and we will resist.”

An upside-down flag signals distress, and Pfleger said the flag outside St. Sabina will stay inverted “as long as this country is under siege.”

At least a dozen veterans joined in the flag-raising, including Rochelle Crump, an Army veteran who served with the Women’s Army Corps during the Vietnam War era.

The Rev. Michael Pfleger, senior pastor at St. Sabina Church, speaks outside the church Monday.

“We would have never seen ourselves standing here today to raise the flag upside down,” Crump said. “For many years, we have held it as a sacred piece to what it meant to America. But today, we are here because America is under distress.”

Lane Knox, another veteran who served in the Air Force as a jet engine mechanic, said she’s always respected the American flag and what it stands for. But she supports raising it upside down to “wake people up.”

“They talk about woke. This is where they need to be woke,” Knox said. “ I hate what the president is doing to innocent immigrants, to innocent poor people and innocent people who need the help of the government. That’s what we fought for in the military.”

Veteran Esteban Burgoa was among three counterprotesters who showed up before Pfleger raised the upside-down flag. He said the move disrespects veterans, and the flag should be treated as an apolitical symbol.

“A lot of people have died for this flag,” said Burgoa, holding a large American flag. “The United States flag has nothing to do with politics, has nothing to do with Trump, has nothing to do with nobody. It is for freedom and liberty.”

An upside-down flag was also flown Saturday over El Capitan in Yosemite National Park by park employees protesting cuts to the federal workforce, the San Francisco Chronicle reported.

Protesters stand silently as speakers talk outside St. Sabina Church Monday.

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