Veteran who posed with American flag in Playboy arrested for stealing American flag
She told cops that the students were disrespecting it -- the students asked police why she hadn't been arrested yet
SCOTT ERIC KAUFMAN
A former Air Force sergeant who left the military after posing naked with the American flag in Playboy in 2007 was arrested on Friday after she attempted to steal the flag of an African-American student group she believed was disrespecting it, the Washington Post’s Michael E. Miller reports.
In a video recorded by her daughter, Michelle Manhart can be seen holding the flag as she encounters a student who demands she return it. “That’s not yours,” the student says. “Actually it is,” Manhart replies. “This flag belongs to the entire United States.”
More students — who say they were there protesting racism — surround Manhart and attempt to secure the flag. As police get between them, Manhart tries to sprint away but is stopped by the gathering crowd. One of the protesters can be heard telling police that the fact that she hasn’t been arrested yet is “white privilege.”
“Is that not theft?” another asks. “If this had been in the ‘hood, you’d have had me in handcuffs already.”
In a twist that visibly surprised Manhart herself, the officers demand that she return the flag. When she refuses, they move to detain her. “Why are you not touching her?” she asks, wondering why the officer was not detaining the lead female protester.
“You are disobeying our lawful command,” the officer replies. “Let go of the flag.” When she refuses yet again, all four officers pin her to the ground and handcuff her — to the evident delight of the student protesters.
more
http://www.salon.com/2015/04/20/veteran_who_posed_with_american_flag_in_playboy_arrested_for_stealing_american_flag/
= new reply since forum marked as read
made me want to 
Just saying....
...is a touchy subject.
In recent months, 'BlackLivesMatter' activists have made flag desecration into an art form.
How do you differentiate between patriotism and disrespect? Like anything else, I suspect 'intent' becomes key in delineation of purpose.
Wearing the flag out of a misguided sense of patriotism (see G. Gordon Liddy, et al.) is one thing...
Stepping on, cutting, burning and wiping one's ass with the flag implies an entirely separate angle of intent. (Jump to 6:50 in the following video):
As an American, I don't personally approve of flag desecration as a form of protest. (My father fought in Korea at the Battle of Chosin.)
However, as a believer in free speech and the First Amendment to the United States Constitution, I lean toward defending the right to do so.
I have been and will continue to be a HUGE supporter of 'BlackLivesMatter.' That said, flag desecration may be where I draw the line. In this case, I'm inclined to side with the Vet...
TYY
