On Wednesday, legislation was introduced in the House by Republicans that would prohibit any other flag, other than the American flag, to be flown over US embassies.
“The Old Glory Only Act,” if passed, would fly in the face of the Biden administration’s push to display flags associated with social movements, including BLM and various “pride” flags.
The act was introduced to the House by Representative Jeff Duncan (R-SC). He said in a statement, “Our beautiful flag, Old Glory, should be the only flag flying and representing our country over our diplomatic and consular posts worldwide. The American flag is a beacon of liberty, and no other flag or symbol better portrays our shared values than the Stars and Stripes. It is important to ensure that Old Glory only is flown at American embassies to represent our ideals abroad.”
The Black Lives Matter (BLM) flag was approved to be flown over Embassies by Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s State Department in May of 2021. The move marked the one-year anniversary of George Floyd’s death.
We raise this banner in honor of George Floyd, murdered one year ago today, in solidarity with people around the globe seeking a world without racial discrimination and a future with equal opportunity for all. #BlackLivesMatter pic.twitter.com/cVIkfH5Yra
— U.S. Embassy Athens (@USEmbassyAthens) May 25, 2021
The trend of displaying flags at embassies goes back to the Obama era in 2014. The bill was originally introduced after a 2018 incident, when a rainbow flag was flown over the embassy in South America.
However, this trend was reversed when President Donald Trump’s Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo refused to allow embassies to fly flags that were not American flags. Upon taking office, President Biden reestablished the practice of virtue-signaling through the use of social-movement flags.
Recently, a pride flag was flown over the US Embassy in the Holy See this past June.
Today is the start of #Pride Month. The United States respects and promotes the equality and human dignity of all people including the LGBTQIA+ community. #PrideMonth #AllInclusive #Pride2022 pic.twitter.com/6VgN9R8c3J
— U.S. in Holy See (@USinHolySee) June 1, 2022
