Hatboro Mayor Defends Upside-Down American Flag Display

HATBORO, PA — He's the mayor of Hatboro, who was re-elected in November to another term. He's president of the Greater Hatboro Chamber of Commerce and heads the borough's Democratic party.

With his wife Denise, Mayor Tim Schultz is also involved with Indivisible Hatboro, which holds rallies to protest moves by the Trump Administration and ICE activity. Denise "DJ" Schultz is a member of the Hatboro-Horsham School Board.

And he's being criticized on social media for displaying an American flag that was upside down at his borough home for over two weeks. Some critics are also calling for the mayor's resignation. See a picture of the flag below

While the mayor hasn't committed a crime, as one of the borough's top officials, he's drawn the ire of residents and U.S. veterans about the flag, which was recently taken down and replaced with another flag outside his home.

"It's a disgrace. He should step down," said Richard Balsamo, who posted about the flag on Facebook recently. Balsamo was featured by Patch as one of the veterans appearing on a borough mural honoring military veterans, including former mayor and State Rep. Nancy Guenst. "He took the flag down and put another one up. If he doesn't step down, residents should vote him out."

The mayor and his wife spoke to Patch on Wednesday about why they made the decision on the flag display.

"We've been thinking about displaying the flag as a sign of distress for quite some time," DJ Schultz said. "But it was the murder of Renee Good and Alex Pretti (by ICE agents in Minnesota) that made us do it. How can anyone defend that?"

"We love our country. For some time, we've been concerned," the mayor said. I love my neighbors. They all have different political viewpoints. We all get along. The only thing we could do was turn our flag upside down. It's our First Amendment right. This is on private property and nothing official. It's my (our) own private thoughts."

"We are not disrespecting the flag," DJ Schultz said. "We love our veterans, our active military, and our police department."

"This is my First Amendment right," the mayor said. "As the mayor of Hatboro and as a private individual, I felt it was necessary. It has nothing to do with dissing people with opposite political views. I completely understand. I get it. (about complaints from residents.) If this was offensive to people, then so be it."

The criticism prompted Borough Manager Diane Hegele to issue a press release last week about a "possible issue" with flags on display in the borough.

"The Borough of Hatboro would like our residents and followers to know that the American Flags on display on borough property are being flown in accordance with The United States Flag Code (Title 4, United States Code, Chapter 1), which provides guidelines for the proper display and handling of the American Flag," Hegele said.

Borough officials initially posted the statement due to the flag at Gold Star Garden at Miller Meadow being broken. But then calls came in constantly to Borough Hall from residents complaining about the mayor's flag display.

Flying the American flag has become more common recently.

It is recognized signal of dire distress or extreme danger to life or property, according to the U.S. Flag Code (36 U.S. Code § 176). While not illegal due to First Amendment protections, it is widely used as a political protest symbol to signify a nation in crisis.

The Flag Code is not enforceable law, meaning individuals cannot be prosecuted for it, though it violates flag etiquette.

The symbol has been used to protest the 2020 election results, FBI searches, and legal verdicts against Donald Trump. It's also been used to protest issues such as the overturning of Roe v. Wade.

More recently, the flag display has been used to protest moves by the Trump Administration and ICE activity in the country.

"The majority of the organization thinks it's a distraction," Lou Polaneczay, chairman of the Hatboro Republican Organization, told Patch on Wednesday. "He's a U.S. citizen. That's his right as an individual. But people really think it's a distraction. It's better to be concerned about an 18 percent tax increase we just received in our bills."

In social media posts, the mayor's flag display has drawn mixed reviews. Some questioned why the borough's mayor would do such a thing, while others supported his First Amendment rights.

"I agree with the mayor that our country is in real trouble," said one Facebook poster. "Time for each and every American to read the Constitution and Bill of Rights and start demanding that our elected officials, all of them, start governing for the good of the country instead of for the good of their pockets."

"Hanging the flag upside down is protected under free speech, so he is legally allowed to do that," another Facebook post read. "I am not certain if government officials (local in this case) are required to follow a different law."

"I think what is really interesting about this, is that we can use our voice and express our opinions and it will create conversations in Hatboro," DJ Schultz said.

In responding to the resignation calls, the mayor said that he has no plans to resign.

"We are just at the beginning of a new term," the mayor said.

(Submitted) This flag was displayed outside Mayor Tim Schultz's Hatboro home for over two weeks.