S.C. 3rd District Congressman
Today, Congressman Jeff Duncan (SC-03) is filing three more cosponsors to H.R.85, the “Old Glory Only Act,” which will prohibit the flying of any flag other than the U.S. flag over United States diplomatic and consular posts. The most recent cosponsors are Louie Gohmert (TX-01), Rick Crawford (AR-01), and Brian Mast (FL-18), bringing the total number of cosponsors to twenty.
The “Old Glory Only Act” was first introduced by Congressman Jeff Duncan in the 116th Congress on July 19, 2018, and in response to a State Department official putting a rainbow flag up over a South American embassy. The “Old Glory Only Act,” was then reintroduced on the second day of the 117th Congress this year, January 4th, 2021.
Recently, Secretary of State Antony Blinken authorized all U.S. embassies and consulates overseas to fly the BLM flag on their official flagpole. According to reporting, an official memo stated, “All U.S. diplomatic posts are strongly encouraged to use the department’s resources to promote policy objectives to advance racial equity and support for underserved communities.”
According to their website, among BLM’s demands include defunding the police and opposing domestic terrorism prevention laws.
Additionally, BLM co-founder Patrisse Marie Khan-Cullors Brignac, who resigned from the Black Lives Matter Global Network Foundation last week amidst criticism of her lavish lifestyle and purchase of four multi-million dollar homes, also called for the end of Israel in 2015 during a panel at Harvard Law School. “If we don’t step up boldly and courageously to end the imperialist project that’s called Israel, we’re doomed,” she commented during the panel titled “Globalizing Ferguson: Racialized Policing and International Resistance.”
Earlier this year, Secretary Blinken also authorized U.S. diplomatic missions across the world to fly the rainbow LGBTQ+ pride flag on the same pole as the American flag at embassies and consulates.
“Our beautiful flag, Old Glory, is the single greatest symbol of freedom the world has ever known,” said Congressman Jeff Duncan. “It is an unmatched representation of liberty that is coveted around the globe, and it should be the only symbol that flies over our embassies in nations around the world. I believe no other flag or symbol can portray our American values better than Old Glory.”
“Across the world, one and only one flag represents the United States, our citizens, and our collective values,” said Congressman Ralph Norman. “The U.S. Flag is the preeminent symbol of American exceptionalism and should never be used as a prop to promote any agenda or political ideology. Whether she flies on top of our embassies, consular offices, or any diplomatic post across the globe, Old Glory should stand alone. I want to thank Rep. Duncan for his leadership on this issue.”■
