Intro [Music] a proposed law in Illinois is flying in the face of Advocates of the First Amendment a State Rep introduced a pair of bills geared at addressing flying the American flag upside down one would make Illinois bill it a felony for any government official to knowingly fly an American flag upside down on government property and the other would impose a fine of up to $25,000 on that government official the practice has been in the headlines in recent weeks with reports of Supreme Supreme Court Justice Court Justice Samuel Alo being accused of hanging the flag upside down at his personal residence in 2021 but it's not just Alo getting the attention the Illinois legislation comes on the heels of Homer Township supervisor Steve Donald Trump balich flying the American flag Union side down outside the official Administration Center one day after former president Donald Trump was convicted on 34 counts of falsifying business records in a New York courtroom ballot released a statement saying in part As Americans no matter which political party you support we should be outraged and very concerned yesterday I temporarily flew our nation's flag upside down flying the flag upside down represents distress and I truly believe that our country is in distress and our constitution is under attack the Response Democratic representative who introduced the bills said in a response the flag of the United States is an enduring symbol of our national spirit and pride and of the sacrifices made by every generation of of Americans as elected leaders we swear our oath to that flag and the nation it represents not to a political leader there's no excuse for such disrespect of our flag and the men and women who serve to defend it right now there's no federal law restricting government officials from flying the American flag upside down on government property the bill mentions nothing about personal property if the legislation passes the Illinois legislature and if it's signed into law it would take effect immediately so if a government official is found to be in violation they could face up to three years in prison for stet AR news I'm Lauren Taylor if you want more unbiased straight facts download the straight arrow news app or visit s.com [Music]