In reply to Donald Trump’s executive order

What flag flew over the munitions factory that produced the bombs that killed Anas al-Sharif, Hind Rajab, or Refaat Alareer?

What flag is stamped on the drones that double-tap strike Afghan weddings or Somali shepherds?

What flag flies over the White House, where genocide is funded and defended by presidents of both parties?

In his recent executive order, Donald Trump threatens to bring the wrath of the federal government down on the brave people who burn or desecrate the American flag. He claims that, “Our great American Flag is the most sacred and cherished symbol of the United States of America, and of American freedom, identity, and strength.”

What he means, of course, is the freedom to dominate the rest of the world, identity as the world’s biggest bully, and strength earned through incinerating children.

In 1968, in the midst of the US mass slaughter of the Vietnamese people, Martin Luther King Jr. called the US “The greatest purveyor of violence in the world today.” Every year since he made that statement, it has proved even more profound.

The US flag has flown over or behind a bloody trail of interventions in Central America, disastrous wars, and occupations in Afghanistan and Iraq. US generals have plotted coups against dozens of governments, US bombs and proxy wars have caused hundreds of thousands of people to flee their homes, all while US warships stalk the seas, and the US military remains the single greatest emitter of carbon in the world.

The only just reaction to living in a country that perpetuates such unceasing and unyielding violence and cruelty is to betray it!

The fact that burning the US flag causes howls of distress among both reactionaries and liberals is also why it is a profound symbolic message to the people of the world, who understand exactly what it means. As people living in a country that is actively perpetuating a holocaust level genocide on the Palestinian people, through arming, funding, and giving unending political support to Israel, we reject Trump’s hollow threats and ludicrous attacks on free expression.

We won’t stop burning the US flag, because we stand with the people of the world.

As James Baldwin referenced, “God gave Noah the rainbow sign. No more water, the fire next time.”