Durham man sentenced for burning American flag

Last Friday, Michael Durham Snow Jr, a 25-year-old of Durham, was sentenced in the US District Court for the District of Columbia for burning an American flag (destruction of government property) during a protest in Washington, DC, following the attempted assassination of President Donald Trump. 

“…the government requests that the Court sentence the defendant to one year of probation, with a condition that he stay away from Federal museums and monuments and pay restitution in the amount of $525,” according to court documents. 

US Attorney Edward R. Martin Jr, Acting Special Agent in Charge Courtland Rae of the FBI Washington Field Office Counterterrorism Division, and Chief Jessica ME Taylor of the US Park Police (USPP), announced the sentencing, according to a press release from the US Attorney’s office. 

On Feb. 11, Snow pleaded guilty to the destruction of government property (less than $1,000). Snow destroyed an American flag (property of the US government) on July 24 when he set it on fire in front of Union Station in Washington, DC. 

An organization was granted a permit to hold a demonstration in the area of Columbus Circle, located at the intersection of Massachusetts Avenue and E Street NE, directly in front of Union Station, on July 24, according to court documents. Between approximately 3 pm and 5 pm, demonstrators gathered at the site. During the event, individuals removed flags from flagpoles, set fire to the flags and other items, defaced multiple statues and structures with graffiti, and obstructed law enforcement officers attempting to arrest those involved in the vandalism.

Several other groups applied for and were granted permits to demonstrate on the National Mall that day. The flags, statues, and structures in Columbus Circle are all US government property. The total cost of clean-up and repair was estimated to be $11, 282.23 by the National Park Service (NPS). 

Two individuals were captured on open-source and surveillance video lowering an American flag affixed to the eastern flagpole in Columbus Circle after the flag fell to the ground. A man who would later be identified as Snow grabbed it and carried it into the crowd of protestors. 

“He threw the flag onto the ground, produced a lighter, and attempted to set the flag ablaze. Unsuccessful, he yelled: ‘I need a better lighter!’ The crowd surrounding the man chanted, ‘Burn that sh–!,’ according to the press release. “Someone handed Snow a bottle of charcoal lighter fluid. Snow doused the flag with the fluid, then, along with an unidentified individual from the crowd, used lighters to torch it.”

Snow was charged on Dec. 6 with one count of destruction of government property and pleaded guilty to the charge on Feb 11. 

“Durham man sentenced for burning American flag” was originally published on www.carolinajournal.com.