Angry protests over Donald Trump’s presidential election got ugly at American University in the nation’s capital when demonstrators burned U.S. flags in front of veterans.
News that Democrat Hillary Clinton was defeated at the polls on Election Day prompted AU students to burn six American flags in front of their peers, prompting an altercation with veterans in the crowd.
A local Fox News affiliate obtained video of the protests Wednesday from students and arrived on scene to speak with others.
“We’re told that there were some in the crowd who had served in the military and rushed in to stop the flags from being burned,” reporter Matt Ackland said. “There was a scuffle. Following that, some students remained in the center of campus chanting anti-Trump words.”
Another student appeared on camera and said that while she was not a supporter of Mr. Trump, the protesters’ actions were out of line.
“Students from the Black Lives Matter group pulled out American flags and started lighting them on fire,” the student said. “My dad is in the military. As upset as I am about this result of this election, the image of the flag burning brought me to tears.”
SEE ALSO: Cleveland protester ignites while trying to burn American flag: ‘You’re on fire, stupid!’
Mr. Ackland said other students he spoke to shared the sentiment that burning flags in response to a free and fair election was inappropriate.
Wednesday’s incident was reminiscent of flag-burning that occurred over the summer during the Republican convention in Cleveland, when a protest inadvertently set herself on fire as activists bellowed about the “fascist” GOP nominee Mr. Trump.
“You’re on fire, stupid!” a police officer screamed while trying to extinguish the flame.
• Douglas Ernst can be reached at dernst@washingtontimes.com.
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