The U.S. flag was seen flying upside down at Yosemite National Park in California, catching the eye of visitors and igniting conversations.
Tourists and outdoor lovers visiting Yosemite National Park this weekend were greeted with an unusual and startling image—the American flag inverted against a rocky cliff.
The stars and stripes are a common sight in our everyday lives. It’s not just displayed on flagpoles; you’ll spot the American flag’s design on T-shirts, phone cases, decorations, and even disposable party plates. However, despite its ubiquity, there are strict rules about how the flag should be handled.
As outlined by the US Flag Code, according to Cornell Law School: “The flag should never be used as clothing, bedding, or drapery. It should never be festooned, gathered, or hung in folds, but should always be allowed to hang freely.”
Flag Code restricts how the American flag can be displayedMichael M. Santiago/Getty Images
One important guideline states that “the flag should never be shown with the union facing downward.” So why did this exact scenario unfold at Yosemite National Park on Sunday, February 23?
The inverted flag was spotted atop El Capitan, a massive rock formation soaring an incredible 3,000 feet in Mariposa County, California.
A report from NBC News revealed that the flag was intentionally placed in that position by a group of Yosemite employees on Sunday evening. Its display was not an accident.
The same part of the flag code that forbids the flag from being shown upside down also notes: “Except as a signal of dire distress in instances of extreme danger to life or property.”
The individuals who raised the flag in this way are believed to have done so as a purposeful act of protest against recent job cuts within the National Park Service.
During the Trump administration, around 1,000 positions within the National Park Service were eliminated.
This move directly impacted staff employed in both national parks and national forests.
Many argue that these reductions will create a domino effect, ultimately influencing the quality of visitors’ experiences in these cherished public areas.
Protests have been held at national parks in response to the job cutsABC30 Action News
In an interview with The San Francisco Chronicle, Gavin Carpenter, a maintenance mechanic at Yosemite who helped raise the upside-down flag, explained the purpose behind the act:
“We’re drawing attention to the challenges facing our national parks, which belong to every American. It’s crucial that we protect them, but we’re losing staff, and if this continues, it won’t be sustainable to keep the parks open.”
The flag’s display attracted even more attention when photographer Brittany Colt captured and posted a photo of it online. She also voiced her concerns in a statement: “This hits close to home for me. I saw several of my friends lose their jobs overnight, leaving our public lands vulnerable.
“These individuals held crucial positions, like Search and Rescue, and ensuring the restrooms and parks were clean for visitors. If we lose these public servants, the park experience will become even more difficult and potentially more dangerous for those who visit.”
