Virginia state officials order large American flag taken down amid July 4 protest fears

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Virginia state officials ordered the removal of an American flag from the construction site in Richmond, citing concerns that the flag would become a "target" for protesters this Fourth of July.

The call from the Department of General Services reportedly angered a subcontractor whose company created the flag using tarps in celebration of Independence Day.

“When we saw the flag, we were concerned that it could become a target so we told the contractor to remove it,” department spokeswoman Dena Potter told The Washington Post in an email.

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Winston said that the flag originally went up with the approval from Gilbane Building Company, the project's general manager. The company then received a call from state officials requesting they take it down.

“The American Flag is a symbol of Freedom! Many men and women died to maintain this freedom, many more fought and still fight to keep this freedom, and you make us remove it??”

“I'm all for the freedoms and liberty's [sic] we have in this country, Protest, sure. Take a knee during the national anthem, whatever floats your boat. Marry who you want, absolutely,” Winston added. “That's what this flag represents!”

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