Dispute over flag protest erupts in Wisc. village


http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/us_upside_down_flag


WAUSAU, Wis. – An American flag flown upside down as a protest in a northern Wisconsin village was seized by police before a Fourth of July parade and the businessman who flew it — an Iraq war veteran — claims the officers trespassed and stole his property.

A day after the parade, police returned the flag and the man's protest — over a liquor license — continued.

The American Civil Liberties Union of Wisconsin is considering legal action against the village of Crivitz for violating Vito Congine Jr.'s' First Amendment rights, Executive Director Chris Ahmuty said.

"It is not often that you see something this blatant," Ahmuty said.

In mid-June, Congine, 46, began flying the flag upside down — an accepted way to signal distress — outside the restaurant he wants to open in Crivitz, a village of about 1,000 people some 65 miles north of Green Bay.

He said his distress is likely bankruptcy because the village board refused to grant him a liquor license after he spent nearly $200,000 to buy and remodel a downtown building for an Italian supper club.

Congine's upside-down-flag represents distress to him; to others in town, it represents disrespect of the flag.

Hours before a Fourth of July parade, four police officers went to Congine's property and removed the flag under the advice of Marinette County District Attorney Allen Brey.

Neighbor Steven Klein watched in disbelief.

"I said, 'What are you doing?' Klein said. "They said, 'It is none of your business.'"

The next day, police returned the flag.

Brey declined comment Friday.

Marinette County Sheriff Jim Kanikula said it was not illegal to fly the flag upside down but people were upset and it was the Fourth of July.

"It is illegal to cause a disruption," he said.

The parade went on without any problems, Kanikula said.

Village President John Deschane, 60, an Army veteran who served in Vietnam, said many people in town believe it's disrespectful to fly the flag upside down.

"If he wants to protest, let him protest but find a different way to do it," Deschane said.

Congine, a Marine veteran who served in Iraq in 2004, said he intends to keep flying the flag upside down.

"It is pretty bad when I go and fight a tyrannical government somewhere else," Congine said, "and then I come home to find it right here at my front door."
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Village President John Deschane, 60, an Army veteran who served in Vietnam, said many people in town believe it's disrespectful to fly the flag upside down.

"If he wants to protest, let him protest but find a different way to do it," Deschane said.

Congine, a Marine veteran who served in Iraq in 2004, said he intends to keep flying the flag upside down.

"It is pretty bad when I go and fight a tyrannical government somewhere else," Congine said, "and then I come home to find it right here at my front door."
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It's a sad day for America when Veterans from different eras fight over proper respect for our nation's Flag.
A sad and telling sign for a new generation when they exhibit an inability to understand the proper way to protest while maintaining the importance of honor and respect.
esp. when they claim to behold such an honor.

It seems to be a premonition to the fall of America is being foretold and no-one is listening.

Could it be that more idiocracy is being born today than intelligence?

Seeing as this literally hits very close to home (Crivitz is about 90 miles away as the crow flies, and this story came from my hometown newspaper), I personally think this guy is a moron. Flying our country's flag upside-down MAY signal distress -- but he's not in any wartime battle here. he's pissed off because he hasn't been granted a liquor license. Not a good enough reason in MY book, so as far as I'm concerned, he's disrespecting the flag. As a vet, he should know better.

Seeing as this literally hits very close to home (Crivitz is about 90 miles away as the crow flies, and this story came from my hometown newspaper), I personally think this guy is a moron. Flying our country's flag upside-down MAY signal distress -- but he's not in any wartime battle here. he's pissed off because he hasn't been granted a liquor license. Not a good enough reason in MY book, so as far as I'm concerned, he's disrespecting the flag. As a vet, he should know better.

It's a sad day for America when Veterans from different eras fight over proper respect for our nation's Flag.
A sad and telling sign for a new generation when they exhibit an inability to understand the proper way to protest while maintaining the importance of honor and respect.
esp. when they claim to behold such an honor.

It seems to be a premonition to the fall of America is being foretold and no-one is listening.

Could it be that more idiocracy is being born today than intelligence?

Mixed emotions on this one.

It is not disrespectful to fly our flag upside down, it does signal distress, not disrespect.

Our nation is in distress under a hyper-inflated currency imposed on us by the FED, too much corruption in government, too many laws, loss of our rights, liberties and freedoms.

When a government fails its people, continues to lead them down a path of ruin, makes it impossible to even imagine "The American Dream" any more, and over regulates our ability to succeed, that is most definately distress.

Who said it is about a liquor lisence? The media? Local law? One man alone can not fix our nations problems that a whole corrupt and greedy government has imposed. Perhaps it is what it is, an appeal to ALL Americans to rise in defense of freedom, take back control of corrupt government that allows Wall Street, private banks and corporations to cause these hardships upon "we the people".

I hesitate to rush to judgement too quickly on such an issue as this, condemning before all the facts are in. I thought we were innocent till PROVEN guilty, and because the media or some sherriff said so, is not proof!

Being local you may know the issue better. If it is as you say, about simply being upset over a liquor lisence, that's what local hearings and town halls are for. In that case, I would have to agree, he is a moron. But if he is being unjustly denied his right to a lisence, it's another issue.

Like I said..... depends on his motivation. The police were wrong either way!

In mid-June, Congine, 46, began flying the flag upside down — an accepted way to signal distress — outside the restaurant he wants to open in Crivitz, a village of about 1,000 people some 65 miles north of Green Bay.

He said his distress is likely bankruptcy because the village board refused to grant him a liquor license after he spent nearly $200,000 to buy and remodel a downtown building for an Italian supper club.

I don't think the police were wrong. They got it Exactly right! There are rules of protocol with The Flag. You disobey and disrespect it, it should have been pulled, along with a SHOW SOME RESPECT, reminder.

sorry but the supreme court disagrees

they ruled it as freedom of speech -- when those charged with burning the flag were arrested for it

i guess they should have charged them with arson instead

Burning the flag is an action, not speech.

I don't think the police were wrong. They got it Exactly right! There are rules of protocol with The Flag. You disobey and disrespect it, it should have been pulled, along with a SHOW SOME RESPECT, reminder.

Burning the flag is an action, not speech.