A group of students at the University of Virginia is planning to hold an “Antifascist Tailgate” party at the university on Friday, which will feature the burning of American flags in protest of President Donald Trump’s recent executive order cracking down on crimes associated with flag burning.
A flyer shared on X, formerly Twitter, shows that Friday’s “Antifascist Tailgate” Party, hosted by the University of Virginia Law School’s “Friends Against Fascism Organization,” is scheduled to take place between 6:00 and 6:30 p.m. in a parking lot at the University of Virginia. The flyer, which features an American flag burning on a grill, notes that highlights from the event will include burgers and hot dogs, beverages, and flag burning.
The flyer also includes a special invitation to members of the United States Army Judge Advocate General’s Corps, saying, “Come celebrate your history of fighting fascism!”
According to Fox News, the flyer was circulated in a law school group chat by Kirk Wolff, a U.S. Navy veteran and a student at the University of Virginia Law School. The outlet noted that Wolff also circulated a message with the title, “Why I am Burning the Flag.”
Fox News reported that Wolff claimed to have organized Friday night’s event for Friends Against Fascism Organization, which is an unofficial group. In a statement obtained by Fox News, Wolff suggested that burning the flag was not disrespectful and that it was a form of protest against the president and his executive orders.
READ MORE: Video: Army vet burns American flag outside White House to protest Trump order
“The president does not get to say what the law is; that is solely the province of the judiciary,” Wolff said. “He must be reminded that his political enemies are not military enemies and that he cannot stop free speech, expression and democracy. Many of us, including myself, signed the dotted line and agreed to fight for these ideals.
“The actions this president has taken, between deploying troops to ‘war zone’ cities and planning to use the military against dissenters who he terms the ‘enemy within’ are far more disrespectful to the sacrifices of current and former service members than any flag burning, which has long been settled as protected speech,” Wolff added. “The president does not get to overturn that precedent with an EO, and his attempts to intimidate dissenters and chill speech is disgraceful. The true desecration of our flag has come from the Oval Office.”
Friday’s flag burning event comes after Trump issued an executive order in August to direct U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi to prosecute individuals who commit crimes “in ways that involve desecrating the flag.” Trump described the burning of the American flag as “uniquely offensive and provocative” and as a “statement of contempt, hostility, and violence” toward the United States.
