Why Burning the Flag Matters

[HopeHoops]

45. A couple of things in particular make it distinctive...

1) only the "flag burners" are wearing masks.
2) the guy holding the "Occupy Oakland" sign moves around to position himself between the cameras and the flag.
3) no police until there's a good show.
4) everyone quietly disperses just because they were told to go away.
5) the cop stomps on the flag, which I personally find far worse than burning it.
6) the people cheering it on were in close proximity to the cameraman (not of the still, the video) and you could hear muffled voices further away telling him to stop.

Regardless of the truth behind what happened, the ones in the masks did steal the flag and destroy it and should be charged appropriately. It doesn't matter what side they were on, those were the only two crimes - theft and destruction of property.

The whole thing stinks of a staged event.