Last month the Biden administration authorized US embassies around the world to fly Black Lives Matter flags and banners.
The directive came from U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken
“The U.S. State Department cable gives chiefs of missions, who head U.S. embassies and consulates worldwide, “blanket written authorization” to display BLM flags and banners as “appropriate in light of local conditions.” It stresses the directive is an “authorization, not a requirement.”
In response, House Republicans introduced legislation that would bar the flying of any flag over embassies other than the American flag.
The legislation is called the ‘Old Glory Only Act,’ and is sponsored by South Carolina Republican Rep. Jeff Duncan.
HR 85 currently has 30 Republican co-sponsors and it reads:
“To prohibit the flying of any flag other than the United States flag over United States diplomatic and consular posts, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1.SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the “Old Glory Only Act”.
SEC. 2. PROHIBITION ON FLYING OF CERTAIN FLAGS OVER UNITED STATES DIPLOMATIC AND CONSULAR POSTS.
The Secretary of State shall ensure that no United States diplomatic or consular post flies any flag other than the United States flag over such post.”
Rep. Duncan says “the only flag that should be flying at our embassies is the flag of the United States of America.”