Land of the Free

Police in Wausau, Wisconsin confiscated an American flag belonging to Vito Congine after the man flew it upside down to protest the village board's refusal to grant him a liquor license.

In mid-June, Congine, 46, began flying the flag upside down — an accepted way to signal distress — outside the restaurant he wants to open in Crivitz, a village of about 1,000 people some 65 miles north of Green Bay.

He said his distress is likely bankruptcy because the village board refused to grant him a liquor license after he spent nearly $200,000 to buy and remodel a downtown building for an Italian supper club.

Hours before a Fourth of July parade, four police officers went to Congine's property and removed the flag under the advice of Marinette County District Attorney Allen Brey.

Funny how you can barely get a flag hung upside down these days before the very tyrants you're protesting show up to prove your point for you.

(Thanks to Jack S.)

Comments

[Yossarian]

I wonder why they won’t issue a liquor license to Congine? Too much competition for their bar-owning friends, maybe? Doesn’t this happen a lot, that people have to jump through hoops to get liquor licenses and then they don’t get them anyway?

[trevor]

I have a feeling this will become all too real for me soon too, as I'm ridiculously contemplating opening up a restaurant next year in the most anti-business state in the country. I have to have my head examined.

[Kent McManigal]

Just another reason to ditch the federal flag altogether. Fly something better like a Gadsden or a Time's Up.

[Sal]

The local sheriff stated that it isn't illegal to fly the flag upside down, but it is illegal to cause a 'disruption.' Looks like Mr. Congine's private property rights were the only thing disrupted.

[trevor]

Indeed, Sal. I love those types of arbitrary statist terms - like 'reasonable.'

[john]

i just listened to the guy on a radio show he says that hes flying it upside down because the country in distress the story has it backwards