Posted on 01/28/2017 7:00:24 PM PST by TangoLimaSierra
A FedEx driver in Iowa City, Iowa simply could not sit idly by when he saw a group of protesters setting fire to an American flag on the city’s cold streets yesterday afternoon.
The man, identified as Matt Uhrin, leaped from his truck with a fire extinguisher, put out the fire, and took one of the flags.
Uhrin then tried to take a second flag from the protesters, but he wasn’t successful. However, he was able to use his fire extinguisher to prevent the protesters from burning it.
During that altercation, Uhrin got into a physical altercation with a couple of the protesters. He sprayed one with the first extinguisher and pushed one person off of him.
Several bystanders seemed to be in support of Uhrin’s actions and voiced verbal support.
According to a USA Today report:
Still, the actions caused a scene on the pedestrian mall across from the Old Capitol Mall, as onlookers shouted and a man in a FedEx uniform, Matt Uhrin, rushed out with a fire extinguisher to put out the blaze. Uhrin took one of the flags from protesters, scuffling with a number of protesters in the process.
Uhrin declined to comment except to say his actions were not related to his employer.
One onlooker, Bob Guyer, said the act was disrespectful to military veterans.
“Probably every one of them has a relative at one point or another that died for that,” Guyer said, referring to the flag. “That’s not free speech. Too many people have died for it,” he said.
Burning the flag is against the United States Flag Code. However, the Supreme Court found that the code section was unconstitutional and ruled that burning the American flag was protected free speech.
While the act of burning the flag is protected free speech, two members of the protest still found themselves facing charges when police showed up. Paul Ogersby and Kelli Ebensberger were both charged with violating Iowa City’s public burn ordinance since they did not obtain the proper permits for burning in public.
They could face up to a $625 fine and possibly, but unlikely, thirty days in jail.
Many people have wondered if FedEx would end up firing Uhrin since he was recorded and photographed wearing his FedEx uniform during the altercation, however, the delivery company made it clear today that they have no plans to let Uhrin go in the following tweet:
I don’t doubt the outcome would have been different.
“Uhrin”?
Why wasn’t that family in Name-Change Court generations ago?
I would love to see a law that burning the American flag in protest was punishable by loss of one voting rights for four years.
I would love to see a law that burning the American flag in protest was punishable by loss of one voting rights for four years.
I would love to see a law that burning the American flag in protest was punishable by loss of one voting rights for four years.
TRUMP!
(We must defend him as he will be visciously attacked everywhere, everyday)
Yes, he’s one of the good ones I would trust to not throw my package over a fence to a porch.
Many thanks to Fed Ex...
Good for Fed-ex, the publicity of firing him would have been bad for business.
Free speech? The way things are going -—— yelling ‘’fire!’’ in a crowded theater will soon be considered free speech!!
I do think you are onto something here. If not Trump, FedEx certainly knew that it would have been a PR blunder to fire this patriot.
On the other hand, the driver may have missed out on the lottery. The Go Fund Me account for this man, had he been fired would have been huge.
“And if Obama were in office?”
Then he would be homeless and sleeping under an expressway overpass tonight, or his truck might have an unfortunate...”accident”! /s;)
Agreed! when I read the headline, I thought “uh-oh, he got canned!”
Good thing he didn’t work for Google (”Do Evil”), or Facebook (We’ll mine all your data)....
That’s good. They probably feared a FedExit if they canned him.
But seriously, he is a true American patriot. I’m glad to share the same country as he.
Taking action while on company time and in company garb has gotten many in trouble in the past. The liberal voices seem to be waning.
Also a former Marine.
No, I am not tired of winning.
My 93 Year Old Father passed away a few Months ago.
He served in the South Pacific in WWII and put his Life on the line. Looking through his stuff, he apparently was involved in more Combat situations than he ever let on.
Even at 93, I’m sure he would taken on those Flag burning reprobates. He could still swing a mean Walker.
Good for the FedEx Driver. He went above and beyond.
Now, how about that Woman SS Agent who would let an Assassin murder President Trump rather than taking a bullet and the idiotic Teacher with the Water Pistol who would obviously love to do take out the President.
I read that they are both still getting a Paycheck.
Bookmark FedEx
And he served in Vietnam
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.