Daily Local News (West Chester, PA)
POLICE WATCH AS MAN BURNS TRUMP FLAGS
WEST CHESTER » A Pennsylvania activist held a Trump flagburning underneath the statue of ‘ Old Glory’ at the historic Chester County Courthouse Wednesday.
The burning was held by Eugene Stilp of Dauphin County, and it brought a group of supporters of the president out in reaction.
Stilp, who describes himself as a good citizen activist, lit three flags on fire shortly before 3 p. m. while he broadcast it live on social media.
Stilp had notified County Commissioners beforehand and when he arrived he was greeted by a Borough zoning officer who told him the Borough had not been notified and he was not allowed to conduct open burning.
Stilp listened and then said he was going to hold the event anyway and provided the zoning officer with identification so he could write a citation.
Gordon Eck, head of the Chester County Republican party, said even though he is sickened by the burning of Trump flag, he is heartened to live in a nation that permits free speech.
“How wonderful it is to live in a country where people are free to speak their mind without fear of government reprisal,” Eck said. “While his comments were devoid of reality, I stand with his right to share them. A healthy society requires the give and take of differing ideas, even those that challenge our most deeply held
beliefs. We must resist the movement toward ideological conformity where people with opposing views are silenced.”
In addition to the zoning offi cer about a dozen supporters of President Donald Trump were on hand with flags of their own which they held up around him. Joe Ward, a local resident was one of them. He brought along his drone to document the event. He also questioned where Stilp had gotten his Trump fl ags and attempted to look through Stilp’s positions.
Stilp off ered to burn their fl ags also, but they declined.
At 3 p. m. Stilp ignited some paper in a metal trash can and then lowered the three fl ags in to the fl ames one at a time. The fi rst was a Confederate battle flag that had “Re- elect President Donald Trump 2020” printed on it. A second Trump fl ag had an old Soviet Union fl ag attached to the back. A second blue, white and red Trump rally flag was then burned; it had three other symbols attached to the back when Stilp placed it into a metal trash can with burning paper: a Nazi swastika, a Sovietera hammer and sickle and a Confederate battle fl ag.
Stilp said the Nazi symbol is because Trump’s values resemble those practiced by fascists; the hammer and sickle represents Trump alignment with Russia’s Vladimir Putin and Trump’s ignoring American service members being targeted for assassination by Russia in overseas fi ghting; and the Confederate battle fl ag represents Trump’s racism.
“Now we can confine Donald Trump to the trash can of history,” Stilp said as he lit the fl ag afl ame.
Ward replied with, “Now we can lock you up.”
The acrid smoke of the fl ag wafted across the area as the Trump supporters shouted counter messages as a pick- up truck went past honking a loud train horn.
A County sheriff ’ s deputy and two West Chester police offi cers also watched from a distance.
Stilp was joined by two other men who assisted him with the props and one who broadcast the event live on Facebook, where Stilp said he draws most of his interest.
After the flag burning was over, Ward moved his drone over Stilp raising it up and down. One man with Stilp tried to knock it down, and Ward said go ahead I’ll have you arrested. Ward has used technology to catch a number of people damaging his Trump signs and fl ags in the County in the last few weeks, with a number of people charged.
“It’s a fi rst amendment right to protest,” Stilp said. “We’re using these fl ags as symbols. It’s a symbol of what we want to get rid of.”
Ward again lowered the drone with Stilp warning he was acting aggressively. At that point a man with Stilp threw a cardboard box which hit the drone causing it to land for a moment before regaining fl ight.
Ward said the drone was damaged and asked police about charging the man. No one was arrested.
Stilp has conducted these flag burning demonstrations in more than 20 other Pennsylvania counties and at the State Capitol in Harrisburg.
Earlier Wednesday Stilp held a similar burning at the Norristown Courthouse and in front of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Doylestown in Bucks County. A police offi cer arrived at the Doylestown event after the brief burning and issued Stilp a citation for open burning. Stilp said he has successfully fought fi nes such as these in federal court on fi rst amendment grounds.
In a phone interview Stilp said he occasionally has counter protesters at his events but rarely has problems. A fl ag burning in Coudersport, Potter County which is viewable on his Facebook page, brought out a number of men who tried to stop the event by grabbing his sign and accusing Stilp of inciting violence. A police offi - cer arrived and learning he had a permit allowed it to occur. Stilp burned two fl ags as local residents verbally harassed him.
“We could care less if they try to intimidate us, we could care less,” Stilp said.
Stilp is well known in state politics as an activist. He was involved in fi ghting a 2005 pay raise for state representatives and is known for using media- generating props to draw attention to his cause
“I’ve been a political activist for 40 years. I really go after people who espouse racism, bigotry and white supremacy; this is just another example, going after somebody who won’t denounce white supremacy,” said Stilp. He added he doesn’t represent any party or group, he considers himself a citizen activist.
“This is what the left does, they burn, they loot and they murder,” said Ward after the event. “It’s proof they burn down cities, like they are doing right now in Philadelphia, if they don’t get their way. They proved they are violent today by attacking my drone. They are arsonists and should be held accountable.”