American Flag Can Be Flown “Upside Down” As A Signal of “Dire Distress”

Question: In a recent column you said that an HOA can generally prohibit a homeowner from flying the American flag upside down. Is that a state or federal law, or some “BS” HOA rule? I always thought that flying the American flag upside down meant that our country is in deep trouble such as the last four years with the invasion of our borders and media disinformation.

Answer: Whether or not you are in an HOA, a federal law allows the American flag to be flown upside down as a “signal of dire distress in instances of extreme danger to life or property,” e.g., a capsized ship in the middle of the ocean.
You and other readers of this column strongly believe that the American flag should be flying upside down now because the country has been “in dire distress” for the last four years. Other readers of this column disagree, and strongly believe that the American flag should be flying upside down now because the country will be “in dire distress” for the next four years.
Bottom line: A federal judge would probably not agree that either a Democratic or Republican administration is an “extreme danger to life or property,” that would authorize the flying of the American flag upside down now.

Note: Although the Supreme Court in 1989 ruled 5-4 that burning of the American flag was protected free speech, that ruling, like the Roe v. Wade abortion ruling, may be modified in the near future.