ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. – Atlantic County freeholder candidate Celeste Fernandez is developing a disconcerting habit, Save Jerseyans: posing with an upside down American flag.
A quick primer in proper flag etiquette might be in order. The U.S. Flag Code is fairly explicit: “The flag should never be displayed with the union down, except as a signal of dire distress in instances of extreme danger to life or property.“
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So if your ship has been overtaken by pirates?
Go ahead and fly your American flag upside down.
Fernandez’s motivation was less clear at last Thursday’s NAACP virtual candidate forum. The candidate – who participated by Zoom – had a visibly upside down U.S. flag behind her to the left…
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A one-off mistake?
Apparently not. The candidate posted a video on Facebook on Monday evening with her flag still very much upside down:
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Fernandez is poised to challenge Republican incumbent John Risley on the November ballot. Atlantic County’s freeholder board is 6-3 Republican.
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