High school students who burned French-like flag may be charged

WTNH Television ^ | 4/8/2003 | Puppage

[Puppage]

(Newtown-AP, Apr. 8, 2003 5:31 AM) _ Prosecutors are deciding whether to press criminal charges against three Newtown High School students who burned a stage prop resembling a French flag.

The News-Times of Danbury is reporting that one of the students involved in the March 18th incident said he was protesting France's refusal to back the United States in the war in Iraq.

School officials say the students will be disciplined because the act was hazardous.

Students burned a piece of canvas made for the high school musical, "Anything Goes." It was burned outside after school on the sidewalk near the school's entrance.

Police said there is no state law against harming a French flag, while defacing an American flag is illegal.

Possible charges include disorderly conduct and criminal mischief, both of which are misdemeanors.

[Seeking the truth]

If anyone knows who these kids are, let me know. I'll send them a FREE "Screw La France" tee shirt!

Screw La France

[SouthernFreebird]

Thats a French flag? But wheres the yellow streak that runs down the back?

[twntaipan]

Imagine the outcry from liberals if this act had been carried out on an American flag and the students threatened like this.

[thoughtomator]

Only burning the US flag is protected under the 1st Amendment apparently. Who wants to bet that if the flag were American, the ACLU and other leftist rats would be all over this?

[gunnedah]

This is just what one might expect from this region. Burn an American flag and it is ok or no problem. But the French Flag is protected.
America certainly needs to think about another revolution with these kinds of idiots in charge.
I would be curious to see if a jury would convict these people.
I never realized how liberal the New England States had become until recently. Maybe its the Kennedy influence!

[Ben Chad]

WTF

[Illbay]

What if it WAS hazardous?

[grb]

It's not all of us in New England. Don't forget to give these high school kids credit

[Archie Bunker on steroids]

Just think if they had burned the rainbow flag? Death penalty?

[Mamzelle]

Every thread I read, you're there playing hall monitor...

[TheBattman]

Oh - so burning the French flag is a big no-no, but burning the US Flag is A-OK?

[Bluntpoint]

If found guilty, they will be sentence to do community service:

Rip down all yellow ribbons in the county and beat the sh@t out of all those persons placing the yellow ribbons on poles, porches, living rooms, carrying pictures of yellow ribbons in their purses an wallets...

[Restorer]

Sounds like the flag was school property.

Should have purchased and burned their own French flag.

[Puppage]

It would appear so. Ain't that nice?

[Future Snake Eater]

Who knows? But there does sound like there's more to the story. At least I hope there is.

[hellinahandcart]

They didn't burn a flag, they burned a piece of canvas with some paint on it.

[rogers21774]

I don't think the French flag is the issue here. First of all, they destroyed school property. Second, they created a hazard by starting a fire on school property. If we permitted everybody who wanted to protest something start fires on school properties, all our schools would be nothing but ashes (which in some cases would probably be an improvement, but that's beside the point).

[G Larry]

What if you ARE STUPID?

They burned it outside for crying out loud!

For all of you whiners out there any time a flame is ignited it's "hazardous".

How many American Flags have been burned at protests with NO arrests?

[Illbay]

Well, excuse me, but making a blanket statement that "burning it outside isn't hazardous" is pretty stupid as well.

I don't want anyone burning anything in my front yard. I don't care if it's outside or not, no one burns anything on my property except me.

If they were on their own property, or had permission from the school officials, fine. I'm rather sick and tired of people on FR condoning irresponsible behavior as long as it is "politically correct FR style."

To me, THAT'S stupid.