Planned Flag Burning In Fort Greene Park Is Meant To Criticize Racism, Say Organizers

American history includes a history of protest and rebellion and now one activist group, Disarm NYPD, will be taking to the northeast corner of Fort Greene park to burn flags — both the U.S. stars and stripes and Confederate — as a form of protest against institutional racism.

As first reported by DNAInfo, the group announced their planned event, entitled “Burn The American Flags” — scheduled for tomorrow, Wednesday, July 1, at 7:30pm, at the corner of Myrtle Avenue and Washington Park — on Facebook, calling it a demonstration “for the Charleston nine and all of those killed by racist violence in America.

“We will set fire to this symbol of oppression — the American flags — and march to honor our brothers and sisters who have fallen in the long struggle for freedom,” they stated. “The Confederate flag, which Dylan Roof proudly displayed, is a lasting symbol of slavery, segregation, and the racist exploitation that still dominates our society. Dylan Roof isn’t an isolated actor – he is a product of a consistent pattern of state-sponsored terrorism and racialized dehumanization in America.”

The group describe the Stars and Stripes as a “symbol of oppression” in league with the Confederate flag. They are also designating the event BYO Flag.

The idea and practice of flag burning is a contentious one, although not illegal, as it is protected as freedom of speech under the First Amendment.

Still, protected or not, it is against New York City Parks and Recreation Department rules to have open fires on Park property that is not a designated grill pit, and marches are not permitted without permits from the NYPD.

The NYPD did not respond to a request for comment and inquiry as to whether there would be a police presence at the park tomorrow. However, Meghan Lalor of the Parks Department responded that “the event is not permitted by Parks. Open fires are not allowed in NYC Parks. See NYC Parks Rules and Regulations: http://www.nycgovparks.org/rules/section-1-05.”

Brooklyn State Senator Marty Golden also spoke out, pressuring city officials to put an end to Disarm NYPD’s plans.

“As we approach the 4th of July, the greatest City in the world cannot stand by and allow our flag to be burned in an historic park in violation of our Parks Department rules,” said Golden in a statement. “I call upon Mayor Bill de Blasio, Police Commissioner Bill Bratton and Parks Commissioner Mitchell Silver to immediately notify the organizers, “DisarmNYPD” that their event will not go on as planned tomorrow night.”

If allowed, Golden contends the action “will truly insult all those who have fought to defend our freedoms, our rights and our liberties. The flag of our country flies proudly throughout the world, on the Moon, and surely on the streets of Brooklyn.”

Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams joined Golden “in opposition” to the event, stating that “its message is one that risks division at a time where unity is truly needed. I am sympathetic to those protesting institutional racism in our society, but burning the American flag is a fringe act that will do nothing to combat the challenges we face.”

Ted General, first vice president of the Society for Old Brooklynites, which lobbied for the Prison Ship Martyrs Monument to the 11,000 Revolutionary War soldiers who died on British prison ships off of the Brooklyn Navy Yard, agreed.

“I think it’s outrageous. the fact they’re doing it near Fort Greene Park, where Revolutionary War soldiers and sailors who perished on British prison ships [are buried]. . .,” he said, trailing off in astonishment. “And to desecrate the American flag as a form of protest I think is totally outrageous.”

Adams also noted the historical significance of Fort Greene Park while calling for a compromise of sorts — that ongoing discourse and solidarity serve as “more constructive” actions.

“Fort Greene Park is not just a park, but a resting place for thousands of brave men and women that died while being held captive on prison ships during the Revolutionary War; we should not do anything to desecrate the memory of these martyrs,” Adams said. “I hope in the days ahead that we will have more constructive conversations and demonstrations that are effective in building national consensus to move justice and equality in our nation forward.”

Disarm NYPD responded to criticisms of their plans by criticizing the people who are offended.

“. . .many people are rather offended by our decision to burn the American flag. We find it a sign of the times that people can care so much about a piece of cloth, while at the same time be so quiet about black churches being burned all over the country. Perhaps this is the great difference between us and the so-called “patriots”. While they express their loyalty to symbols, we express our loyalty to the lives of the oppressed.

We do not believe the ideals of America are anything to be revered. We are building something that will be much better than America. . . .We dream of what real freedom looks like: freedom from paramilitaries occupying our communities, beating and killing our sons and daughters; freedom from our communities being destroyed by the speculative capital of gentrification; freedom from mass surveillance; and freedom from systemic racism.

So, we will burn the American flag, a symbol of oppression and genocide, and in the same action, dismantle our stunted, cynical expectations of what is possible in the world. . .We, the dreamers, are the true realists. We know things can’t continue this way, so we commit to building a better world. A world better than America.

This is the second time in recent months that Fort Greene Park has been chosen by anti-establishment activists to make a point, although the first incident was less incendiary. This past April, artist-activists secretly installed a bust/sculpture of former NSA contractor Edward Snowden atop one of the pillars of the park’s Prison Ship Martyrs Monument.