Upside-down American flag hung briefly from 2nd flatiron amid NOAA, NWS layoffs
DENVER (KDVR) — The city of Boulder removed an American flag that was hung upside down from the 2nd flatiron on Friday afternoon.
An upside-down American flag has been a form of protest for decades, according to the Free Speech Center at Middle Tennessee State University. A similar act was reported at El Capitan in Yosemite National Park earlier this week.
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The flatirons are close to the National Science Foundation's National Center for Atmospheric Research, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Office and the National Weather Service Office in Boulder. Earlier this week, NOAA began the process of firing hundreds of probationary workers in the latest of sweeping federal layoffs encouraged by the Department of Government Efficiency, which is led by billionaire Elon Musk.
FOX31 reached out to Phillip Yates, spokesperson for the city of Boulder Open Space and Mountain Parks, who said the city values and respects displays of the American flag in the community.
'However, our open space lands are managed with specific purposes, including preserving and protecting natural areas. To maintain this mission, we consistently remove abandoned or unauthorized items and displays—including flags—to ensure these areas remain open and welcoming for all visitors,' Yates said via email. 'This approach has been applied consistently, including the removal of an American flag following the Boulder mass shooting in 2021.'
'As a result, the city removed the flag on the 2nd Flatiron around 1:45 p.m. Friday, Feb. 28, following past practices,' Yates continued. 'We are not aware of other items being found other than the flag. We believe the flag is abandoned property, and in this circumstance, we do not plan to issue a citation.'
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He also noted that he is not informed about the legality of the flag's placement, but said the city has not filed charges in similar situations in the past.
'The city will make reasonable efforts to identify the flag owner and return it to them,' he said.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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