This time, it was the “Appeal to Heaven” flag, which, like the inverted U.S. flag, was carried by rioters at the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. Also known as the Pine Tree flag, it dates back to the Revolutionary War, but largely fell into obscurity until recent years and is now a symbol of support for former President Donald J. Trump, for a religious strand of the “Stop the Steal” campaign and for a push to remake American government in Christian terms.
During the period the Appeal to Heaven flag was seen flying at the justice’s New Jersey house, a key Jan. 6 case arrived at the Supreme Court, challenging whether those who stormed the Capitol could be prosecuted for obstruction.
Until about a decade ago, the Appeal to Heaven flag was mostly a historical relic. But since then it has been revived to represent “a theological vision of what the United States should be and how it should be governed,” said Matthew Taylor, a religion scholar at the Institute of Islamic, Christian and Jewish Studies. He is also the author of a forthcoming book tracing how a right-wing Christian author and speaker who repopularized the flag helped propel Mr. Trump’s attempt to overturn the election.
The Freedom From Religion Foundation considers the flag a "sectarian symbol that indicates government endorsement of Christianity."
Aren't the justices supposed to be impartial to political parties and candidates once appointed to the SCOTUS? I'm not sure how to get a SCOTUS justice out, but this man needs to fucking go.
Even if I felt this way I wouldn’t fly flags like this because it’s obnoxious and I would not want to alienate neighbors or telegraph any bias I have.
It’s like political yard signs. Why do I need to advertise who I’m voting for in the hotly contested DA race in my community (real example from this week).
shiruken on May 23rd, 2024 at 12:37 UTC »
Full story from the New York Times (free link): Another Provocative Flag Was Flown at Another Alito Home
The Freedom From Religion Foundation considers the flag a "sectarian symbol that indicates government endorsement of Christianity."
Previous story: At Justice Alito’s House, a 'Stop the Steal' Symbol on Display
Andy5416 on May 23rd, 2024 at 12:57 UTC »
Aren't the justices supposed to be impartial to political parties and candidates once appointed to the SCOTUS? I'm not sure how to get a SCOTUS justice out, but this man needs to fucking go.
sdf_cardinal on May 23rd, 2024 at 13:24 UTC »
Even if I felt this way I wouldn’t fly flags like this because it’s obnoxious and I would not want to alienate neighbors or telegraph any bias I have.
It’s like political yard signs. Why do I need to advertise who I’m voting for in the hotly contested DA race in my community (real example from this week).
And I am not a Supreme Court justice.