Burr Campaign To Target Ross' Defense Of Flag Burning With Snapchat Geofilter, Digital Ads | Eastern NC Now

    Raleigh, NC     While North Carolinians celebrate our country's Independence Day this weekend, the Burr campaign will remind those taking part in the festivities of Deborah Ross' defense of burning the American flag. The campaign will use a Snapchat geofliter in Raleigh to highlight how then-top ACLU lobbyist Ross railed against a Constitutional Amendment in Congress that would have banned flag desecration, saying that everyone has a "right to burn the flag as symbolic speech." Then again in 2000, Ross' ACLU celebrated after the Senate narrowly failed to pass a Constitutional Amendment that would have banned flag desecration. In addition to the geofilter, the campaign will run targeted digital ads that allow people to demand that Ross explain her radical position regarding one of our nation's most respected symbols.

• "In what is yet another example of Deborah Ross' radical tenure as Chief Lobbyist for the ACLU, Ross criticized legislation that would have prohibited people from burning the American flag. Ross will have to explain to the roughly 775,00 veterans in North Carolina-all of whom bravely signed on the dotted line to defend the flag and the ideals it stands for- and other American patriots why she would allow someone to destroy our country's flag."

    In June 1995, Ross Criticized A House Of Representatives Vote To Ban Flag Burning Saying "We Have A First Amendment Right To Burn The Flag As Symbolic Speech." "The House voted overwhelmingly Wednesday to amend the Constitution to protect the American flag, brushing aside protests that flag desecration - no matter how objectionable - should be considered free speech. The amendment would give state and federal authorities the power to impose criminal sanctions against people convicted of physically desecrating the flag, although it made no attempt to define desecration. ... Deborah Ross, legal director for the N.C. chapter of the ACLU, said the amendment was a waste of time and resources. 'We have a First Amendment right to burn the flag as symbolic speech,' Ross said. 'The Constitution protects that right. To spend time and effort on this is ridiculous. Why not pass an amendment to help poor people or promote education in this country? This won't make one bit of difference.'" (David Hess, "Amendment On Burning Flag Easily Passes House," Charlotte Observer, 6/29/95)

    In 2000, The North Carolina ACLU's Website Celebrated "A Tremendous Victory For Free Speech And The Bill Of Rights" When Congress Failed To Pass A Constitutional Amendment To Ban Desecration Of The Flag. "In a tremendous victory for free speech and the Bill of Rights, Senator Edwards joined 36 of his colleagues in resoundingly defeating a proposed constitutional amendment to ban desecration of the flag!" (North Carolina ACLU's Website via Internet Archive, www.acluofnorthcarolina.org, Cache Date 6/12/00)

• The North Carolina ACLU Called Attempts To Ban Flag Desecration "An Assault On Free Speech." "But flag amendment supporters will not go away quietly. The Citizens Flag Alliance and its allies are gearing up an effort to punish Senator Edwards for opposing this assault on free speech. Through letters and calls to his Senate offices, and in letters to the editor, amendment supporters will attack the patriotism of the Senator, simply because he stood up for the Constitution." (North Carolina ACLU's Website via Internet Archive, www.acluofnorthcarolina.org, Cache Date 6/12/00)

• Contact: Jesse Hunt
•     jhunt@burrforsenate.com