Rev. Pfleger Vows To Keep Flying American Flag Upside Down

The Rev. Michael Pfleger said he intends to keep flying an upside down American flag outside of his South Side church to protest gun violence no matter how many times it gets ripped down, the Chicago Tribune reports.

The decision by the controversial priest to fly an upended flag in front of his church had some veterans up in arms, ABC 7 reports. Members of the Illinois chapter of Rolling Thunder, an organization dedicated to aiding veterans and prisoner of war issues, objected to Pfleger's attention-getting protest.

On Thursday someone ripped down the flag that had been raised upside down Tuesday in a ceremony cum protest at St. Sabina's Church. Pfleger, an outspoken social justice activist, quickly replaced it.

"There's more attention being given to the flag than to children dying," Pfleger told the Tribune. "What do we care about children dying?"

Flying the flag upside-down is widely recognized as signaling distress or grave danger-- precisely the point Pfleger is hoping to make.

Pfleger, who is the son of a veteran and whose own son is in the Army, said his intention was not to disrespect the veterans or the flag but to call for help in a "dire emergency":

"My God, isn't it a dire emergency that we're losing children -- almost two classrooms in Chicago alone -- to gun violence? This is a dire emergency. This is a pandemic."

Pfleger said his church has hosted three funerals this year for children killed by gun violence. A 16-year-old boy was shot to death Wednesday on the West Side.

"We're doing something radical, yes. But a radical situation is going on right now in our country."

Some members of Rolling Thunder have called on Cardinal Francis George to force Pfleger to take the flag down, which Pfleger said he hopes doesn't happen.

"I hope the Cardinal will not do that. We're not breaking any law, we're not doing anything immoral."

Mayor Daley defended Pfleger Thursday, saying he sympathized with families who'd lost children to gun violence and that flying the flag upside down could get more people talking about the issue, according to Chicago Public Radio:

"I think people are very, very frustrated. He [Pfleger] sees that on a personal level. Young people families, lost of a love one, in of course the offender goes to prison for the rest of their lives. So you're loosing two young people in generations of families and opportunities."

Comments

[rroy]

I thought the "Flag Issue"was settled by the supreme court several years ago,citing the First Amendment as the basis for"The Opinion of the Majorety".­The jist of the opinion being that a citizen has the right to use the flag as a cymbol of expression in any way he choses.
I have a lot more respect for the Reverend's right of self expression than I do for the narrow minded dingbats that try to deprive him of it.

[swan1]

How does an upside down flag help anyone or anything. He needs to go away and shut up. Better yet, take Alan Keyes on a vacation with you.

[poomplet]

First off, he should be flying the CHICAGO flag upside down, not the USA's. It's a LOCAL tragedy...­other major cities seem to be doing a much better (or at least somewhat better) job at keeping their kids alive despite gangs & poverty.

Then I'd ask that all Christians who are disgusted & disheartened by the many misdeeds of the Catholic church start displaying inverted crucifixes and/or rosaries in a jar of yellow water (of course, to symbolize urine...ac­tually doing so would be icky).

C'mon, Rev....sym­bolism's symbolism & fair's fair....ri­ght?

[stav506]

"First off, he should be flying the CHICAGO flag upside down, not the USA's."

Check out this page to see how it's more than just a Chicago issue.

http://www.ichv.org/kidsandguns.htm

[postman66]

Local news interviewed a V.F.W member from suburban Lisle, up in arms about the flag display. Bet your bottom dollar inside that hall he could give a hoot about dead black kids, and probably makes joke about their plight. Father your flag, fly it any way you want.

[vie2012ne]

Children are being killed by gun violence in Chicago? How is this possible, since guns are illegal in Chicago?

[VOTER]

Huh?
The same way, guns keep turning up and being used in schools
and businesses all across the country.

[djkrlsn]

Chicago has had a defacto ban on handguns not already in the city since 1985--and obiously it is not working

[WowJones]

House burglaries and numerous straw purchases in the surrounding suburbs. It's pretty easy.

[VOTER]

True.

[scarab23]

what's a good man like this doing in the priesthood of that silly church?

[djkrlsn]

Actually what is that silly a man doing in an already troubled priesthood

[WowJones]

One of the largest, and more faithful parishes on the South Side.

[pokemon]

Liberals: Let the cops protect you, and after your guns are gone we can take the cops as well.

Conservatives: Lower taxes mean you can buy your own gun to protect yourself.. who needs cops.

Moderates (conservative liberals): Increase taxes to pay for services and fix my roads. I will buy a gun because I understand the need to have the ability to protect myself if the need arises and believe in exercising my rights.

Independents: I am confused about my rights but only because everyone is so F$%#^&* loud when spewing their beliefs I cannot think.

Tea-baggers: I swear the president was born out of the country, Obama is going to take my guns and religion, who needs taxes for roads, and I never leave the county I live in so I do not want to pay for them... Oh and aliens landed at the white house last week... Rush said so.

[Ma Ratl]

I had a flag pin that I wore upside down on my badge at work starting in 2002. I used to get in some heated arguments with some of the repug docs about dubya.

[plutocrat03]

The saddest part is that the killings of the children in Chicago is being done by members of their own community. I recognize that the St. Sabina's Parish members are doing what they can, but the community is surrounded by people who simply do not place a value on life.

Handguns have been banned in Chicago for generations and the use of these weapons by criminals against other criminals with collateral damage is higher than it ever was..

So if the people in the parish are surrounded by bad people, what are we outside the community to do? The Chicago Police cannot be an occupying army, depriving folks in the neighborhood of their rights, it does not seem to be the job of the Cook County Sheriff, National Guard or other entity with physical power to solve this problem. What can be done?

More gun control is not the solution since there should be no handguns in the City of Chicago at all by now. All you will accomplish is to disarm the general population further so that the criminal class will be the only one armed and ready to victimize more people.

[pokemon]

Your trying to make sense. I am a gun carrying liberal, because of crime I insure my family is protected. Problem here is the gun lobby and the anti gun lobby have turned this into something it should no be.. complex.

It is simple, my right is to be armed if I WANT, if not then I do not have to be. My right to carry concealed is a different right, one that keeps the general public from being freaked out I am carrying a gun. Of course I am in the south so only kids see it anyway, adults just assume my guns is a black berry or something, amazing how many people do not notice.

[Lakeview Greg]

Well, this isn't good. It seems someone tore down the flag Thursday. Father Michael put up a new one already. Here is the link from WBBM..

http://www.wbbm780.com/St--Sabina-s-upside-down-US-flag-stolen/4359181

sheesh.

[Val49]

Some times people don't understand until it happens to them or their children, Then they are ready to listen and help do something about the problem.

[rwext]

For 7.5 years the USA has pretty much been the safest place on the planet , except those like Chicago and Ilinois run exclusively by corrupt extremist liberals..­..And now that corruption and and Chicago thuggery is nation wide

[VOTER]

You should consider the drastic Bush funding cuts for police
and fire protection in Chicago and across the nation but then again, you are a
Bush Loyalist. NO LIE LEFT BEHIND.

[rwext]

only a liberal considers increased spending, which Bush did, a cut..... I remember when Bush increased funding for seniors and school lunches and you screamed how they were eating dog food.

[Eoin45]

"For 7.5 years the USA has pretty much been the safest place on the planet " Tell that to the people who died on 9/11. You and yours utterly failed to prevent it. If it had happened on Clinton's watch you would have dumped the blame right in his lap. You know it. I know it. So man up and admit it. Bush failed to protect us.

[NASW]

I challenge you do draw a rational connection between the War in Iraq and Inner-City Hand-gun violence in Chicago.

[goddesscon2001]

Funny...ou­r country was in total distress for 8 years and NOW he wants attention.­.
I have lived in Chicago my whole life . While I was young enough to be in school here... there were plenty of fights..ri­ots..shoot­ings..stab­bings..you name it..
Where was he then? I mean he has been a priest in Chicago for as long as I have lived here..
Not every child that was shot was shot on CPS grounds..i­f they were shot in their neighborhood they class it as a CPS student and not just a teen or middle school child.
Well yes...most of the kids go to Chicago Public Schools cause it's affordable­..but these kids getting shot..most­ly by other kids is nothing new in this city..
We have a hand gun ban in Chicago...­they are already illegal what more does he want?
How about crabbing to the community about parental responsibility?
If these kids came from homes with involved parents( which it is proven gangs get their recruits from uninvolved families).­.then put the responsibility where it should be..
I do not want the government involved in any more parts of my life..
So father...f­lying the flag upside down might be your way of showing distress but honestly ..
Our country was in the most dire straits for the past 8 years and NOW he has something to say..
Stick to the pulpit or lose your funding.

[VOTER]

You may have lived in Chicago your entire life but you apparently you don't know a
thing about St. Sabina's Parish, the community and Father Pfleger.

Responsibility, respect, integrity, ethics and Christian Living ( Living it not talking just
about it) sum up this community.
Father has two adopted sons and one foster son. LOVE & PARENTAL RESPONSIBILITY!
With his guidance & help from many, there is now a wonderful SENIOR CITIZENS
home in the communIty. RESPECT!
Education is a TOP PRIORITY.
Volunteerism - CHRISTIAN LIVING
Actually, Father's integrity highlights the lack of it in the leadership
of the Archdiocese of Chicago.

"Our country was in the most dire straits for the past 8 years and NOW he has
something to say-" Huh?
Did you ever hear Father say he was in favor of BushCo?
Bush's War of Choice?
Of course you haven't and you haven't attended any of his sermons.

Also, unlike many parishes, including some in the suburbs, St. Sabina Parishioners
paid back all owed money owed to the Archdiocese and their level of
donations is high.
How's your parish doing?

[BGM1906]

So, the federal government shows up on your doorstep and pokes around in your life? Yeah right! At the end of the day, all the outrage from the right side of the isle is b/s, because not one of you had anything to say when Bush was passing billions in gov spending..­.so shut up now!

[WowJones]

You've been mired in the muck. Father Pleger has been an open activist priest for over 20 years.

[rwext]

Rev Pfleger is a wingnut loose cannon on a lot of things, BUT this is not one of those.... 35 Chicago Public School children ( Arne Duncan gets rewarded ) were shot dead murdered last year . A strain of flu causes some illnesses and the MEDIA, Political leaders and the School Systems scream Armageddon­......Pret­ty soon though flags will be flying upside down all over the country thanks to the 'progressive"agenda

[djkrlsn]

And most of Pfleger's supporters are denying that there is already a gunban in Chicago--

[postman66]

The handgun ban is irrelevant to the bad guys. All one has to do is drive to Dolton, or Linconlwood or Oakbrook, all just outside city limits to buy a gun.

[Natasha Phillips]

Public Law 829 (77th Congress) Sec. 4(a) :
"The flag should never be displayed with the union down
SAVE AS A SIGNAL OF DIRE DISTRESS"
**********­**********­***It would have also been a good idea during the BUSH/CHENEY autocracy!!