The federal government is prosecuting a Vietnam-era vet for displaying two four-by-six-inch American flags outside a Veterans Affairs (VA) fence in Los Angeles on Memorial Day, May 30, 2016.
Robert L. Rosebrock, 74, is facing up to six months in prison, according to Judicial Watch, for also “taking photographs on Memorial Day 2016, and on Sunday, June 12, 2016, without permission” as he was being detained and cited for displaying the flags.
The Memorial Day charge stems from photographs Rosebrock took of a Veterans Affairs police officer while the officer detained and cited him for displaying the two small flags outside the fence. Rosebrock also took photos of VA police detaining and handcuffing conservative activist Ted Hayes after Hayes displayed an American Flag above the same VA fence. Hayes, dressed as “Uncle Sam,” was not charged with any wrongdoing despite being detained and handcuffed
According to Judicial Watch, Rosebrock, Hayes and others have protested outside the VA nearly every Sunday and Memorial Day since 2008 for what they believe is the VA’s failure to make full use of the property for the benefit and care of veterans, particularly homeless veterans.
Deeded to the federal government in 1888 for the specific purpose of caring for disabled veterans, the property includes the veterans’ home, but also entirely unrelated uses such as a stadium for UCLA’s baseball team, an athletic complex for a nearby private prep school, a golf course, laundry facilities for a nearby Marriott hotel, storage and maintenance facilities for 20th Century Fox Television’s production sets, the Brentwood Theatre, soccer practice and match fields for a private girls’ soccer club, dog park, and a farmer’s market.
Washington, D.C.-based Judicial Watch will be providing Mr. Rosebrock with legal representation in fighting the feds’ charges.
“The federal government’s pursuit of these vindictive charges against Mr. Rosebrock is mind-blowing,” Judicial Watch President Tom Fitton said. “Why in the world would the feds prosecute a 74-year-old veteran over the placement of two small American Flags at the entrance to a park honoring veterans on Memorial Day? Frankly, President Trump should ask why the VA and his Justice Department are trying to jail this American patriot.”
Why, indeed?
It seems wrong that anti-American protesters can burn American flags with no consequence; meanwhile, a veteran who hangs a flag on a fence is being prosecuted by the very government he faithfully served.
This surely isn’t the delivering for veterans President Trump spoke about.
