Pennsylvania man charged in flag desecration

Published November 21, 2015

A Pennsylvania man was charged Friday after he allegedly hung an American flag upside down, spray painted it and put it on display outside his home, WJACTV.com reported.

Joshuaa Brubaker said he meant no offense, but he reportedly said he was standing up for his American Indian heritage, and flying a flag upside down traditionally means distress.

"If we can't express ourselves freely and not worry about any repercussion from that, what's the point of having the flag?" he asked the station. Brubaker is facing misdemeanor charges for desecration and insults to the American flag.

Allegheny Township Police were reportedly alerted to the flag by a number of complaints, including a military woman who police said "was very offended."

"People have made too many sacrifices to protect the flag and to leave this happen in my community, I'm not happy with it," L.J. Berg, the Allegheny Township assistant police chief, said.