Last weak a leaked memo indicates Joe Biden’s State Department plans to sanction Black Lives Matter flags and banners at U.S. “Diplomatic and Consular posts.” The memo of “authorization,” first reported by Jack Posobiec at Human Events and covered by Law Officer, prefaces the guidance on BLM in relation to the recent anniversary of George Floyd’s death.
Now, several U.S. lawmakers are fighting back. They’ve introduced a bill late last week to ban the federal government from being able to fly divisive BLM flags at U.S. embassies overseas, Daily Wire reported.
On Friday, the contingent of lawmakers who object and are trying to rebuff Biden’s administration include House GOP Conference Chair Elise Stefanik (R-NY) and Reps. Nicole Malliotakis (R-NY), Ken Buck (R-CO), Michael Guest (R-MS), Darrell Issa (R-CA), Brian Mast (R-FL), and Pete Sessions (R-TX). They introduced the Stars and Stripes Act of 2021.
The bill would allow the following flags to be flown at U.S. embassies:
- The flag of the United States.
- The flag of the country where the diplomatic or consular post is located.
- The flag of a State, territory, or possession of the United States.
- A departmental or secretarial flag.
- A flag designed to honor persons who are classified as prisoners of war or missing-in-action.’
Moreover, the bill restricts what flags the Secretary of State can fly at diplomatic and consular posts around the world, according to the Daily Wire.
“It is inappropriate for President Biden and Secretary Blinken to authorize and encourage the display of inherently political flags that are in no way affiliated with the U.S. Government over American embassies overseas,” Malliotakis said. “The American flag is a beacon of freedom and hope for oppressed peoples around the world; it should be the primary flag flown above our embassies and that is what my legislation seeks to accomplish. The Administration’s directive is an insult to those who made the ultimate sacrifice for our flag and our nation – especially as we head into Memorial Day weekend – and it is absolutely ridiculous that legislation is needed to correct this issue.”
While supporting the bill, Stefanik said, “Our beautiful American flag should fly over our U.S. embassies around the world – not the flag of a political organization founded by Marxists.”
Other supporters of the bill shared similar sentiments.